Online media Ethio 360 pulled a rabbit out of a hat by bringing a renegade diplomat, who was under the main diplomatic mission of Ethiopia to the United States until recently. With over 15 years of experience working in the ministry of foreign affairs, including director of public diplomacy and director of the reform secretariat after Abiy became prime minister, Assefa Nigussie, is a seasoned diplomat; he served his country in missions in Asia, Western Europe, and America.
With shocking bluntness, Assefa appeared on the youtube media alongside journalist Haptamu to reveal his own ministry's disastrous inner workings and the whole administration.
Now free from the reins of the oppressive administration he served for three years, Assefa didn't shy away from criticizing the prime minister and his higher-ups.
"The prime minister has no regard for the advice of diplomats and analysts in our ministry."
He cited Eritrea as an example, locked in a grinding stalemate with Ethiopia for 20 years. Contrary to the diplomatic norm, the prime minister made overtures without the necessary procedures and consultations on the part of his foreign ministry. And after president Isaias Afeworki accepted the chance at a peace process started by the new-kid on-the block – although widely welcomed by western countries – questions were being asked by western backers and African allies. When the decision was made, those allies that were instrumental to Ethiopia's lobbying effort were unaware of it.
Assefa posited that the decision to make peace with Eritrea and advocate for the withdrawal of sanctions alienated and strained relations with friendly countries. Especially allies that had helped the Ethiopian government in its quest to levy sanctions on the Eritrean regime.
Recounting a particular meeting in Addis Ababa, which featured a speech from Abiy, Assefa went at length to criticize the little knowledge the PM wielded when it comes to diplomacy. In that meeting, Abiy told the attendees of his plan to unite Somaliland and the federal republic of Somalia, which have been locked in a decades-long standoff over Somaliland's 1991 claim of independence and Mogadishu's rejection of it. Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo – president of Somalia - cedes power to Muse Bihi Abdi (president of Somaliland) in this ambitious plan. Predictably the Somalis weren't happy about the whole thing, and relations soured soon after.
According to Assefa, both instances are just two examples of how the diplomatic effort is led under PM Abiy Ahmed. All efforts at diplomacy are directed by the prime minister's office, he said. Studies and analyses by the foreign ministry on which diplomatic decisions are made have been wholly ignored under the Abiy administration.
As per the rebellious diplomat, the PM once said, "we have to set aside formal procedures and diplomatic norms."
New appointees are given diplomatic posts based on loyalties to the grandiose image of the PM and not mere qualifications.
Assefa served under the notoriously incompetent Ambassador Fitsum Arega (current Ethiopian Ambassador to the United States) in his last post. Many criticize the ambassador as being unfit for the job. Some even say the only reason he was given such a lofty post – arguably one of the highest positions in Ethiopia's diplomacy – is because of the close ties he shares with the PM. Fitsum's career isn't grounded in anything related to diplomacy. A brief bio of Fitsum's shows he served in the Ethiopian Investment Commission and the prime minister's office before his ambassadorship.
Assefa suggested that high-level appointments of inexperienced and/or unfit officials have dealt a lot of damage to the ministry (MFA). These high-profile appointments offer little more than echoing WALTA, FANA, and other governmental media in Ethiopia.
Despite the apparent failure as one of the oldest and finest Ethiopian institutions, the ministry of foreign affairs is not at fault for the capitulation, Assefa insisted. "Hard-working men and women under the ministry of foreign affairs are not the reason why Ethiopia's diplomacy has broken down, although some criticize the ministry."
"Simply put, Abiy is forcing the ministry off a cliff just as he did with the national army and the intelligence agency. With another reform in the pipeline, the ministry is facing a major threat to its standing." Assefa is, of course, alluding to the highly touted reform, which includes the closure of 31 embassies and missions.
This reform news has caused quite a stir among Ethiopians because closing down 31 embassies and missions is ruinous to the country's image, especially when the world is piling on the pressure. Abiy has shut off life support for missions in crucial countries like Egypt, Tanzania, and a host of Middle Eastern countries.
"I don't think they [the prime minister's office] have thought this through. Closing down key missions is costly. Other countries will follow suit and close down their embassies, its diplomatic reciprocity." Assefa asserted.
This latest fumble by Abiy Ahmed is one of many in recent times. The war has dragged Ethiopia to its bare knees, and Ethiopia's image as a country undergoing democratic reforms is tarnished. One wonders how many more diplomatic fumbles the current regime can sustain without casting aspersions on the country's survival in the eyes of world leaders.
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