Events in Retrospect

The year 2013 is only three days away. It is educative and even interesting to go back in time and reconsider some of the key events that took place in Ethiopia. Since its launch on the 28^th of June 2012, this blog, Abyss, entertained several socio-economic, religious, and political issues, some of which are highlighted below, beginning from the oldest one. The following texts are direct quotations taken from previous posts followed by the links that lead to entire posts.

In the new year and beyond, Abyss aims to 1) support solicited and unsolicited reflections (from other people), 2) consider global-level issues as related to Ethiopia, 3) stay non-partisan and objective, and 4) significantly contribute to Ethiopian politics. Special currency will be given to your comments and criticisms! Now, enjoy reading the summaries of some key past posts below.

The EOTC Patriarchate: A Cause for Division

The division of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church (EOTC) into two competing synods has a single cause: the way the most infamous patriarch, the late Abune Paulos, was instated as leader of the church twenty years ago.  The then members of the synod did not oppose the political maneuvering made and several even praised the move. That effectively divided the top leadership of the church that survived countless challenges before. For the last two decades, the two synods invested a lot of their time and resources to ‘fight and kill’ each other, which in the end unfavorably checked the church’s growth and development.

Most Troubling Facts about Ethiopia

During the last two decades, Ethiopia for sure witnessed improvements in some fronts. Basic infrastructure such as hydroelectric dams, roads, education and health institutions, and catering businesses are significantly expanded. Particularly important are the efforts made to make schools and universities accessible to a huge number of students that is found to be higher even by international standards. In fact, Ethiopia is among the few countries in the world that achieved the highest expansion of of the education sector. This and other signs of improvements must be duly acknowledged and commended.

Courage and Honesty

Note: This entire text is copied and pasted from an email being forwarded by many. I found it powerful. 

A successful businessman was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business. Instead of choosing one of his Directors or his children, he decided to do something different.  He called all the young executives in his company together.

President Girma's Letter: Slip of the Mind or the Tongue?

                                                President Girma WoldeGiorgis, Google picture

Since his coronation in October 2001, the President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Girma WoldeGiorgis, has been ‘playing’ at the background of the political scene. He is occasionally seen on ETV, receiving ambassadors and inaugurating the start and finish of projects. Luck has him that he was given a second term in office in October 2007. His term will technically end in October 2013.   

Having this as a background, I want to focus on the president’s take of the reconciliation efforts underway between the two EOTC synods. In his letter addressed to the patriarch abroad, he clearly highlighted the need to merge the two synods through reinstating Abune Merkorios to his position in Addis. In a separate letter addressed to the acting Patriarch in Ethiopia, Abune Natanael, the president requested the synod there to make a decision to reinstate Abune Merkorios as patriarch.