Military situation in Ethiopia manipulated from outside – analyst

Political Analyst Lawrence Freeman strongly believes that the recent massacre against civilians in Ethiopia, in the Oromia region, is a result of ethnic polarization used as a weapon by people inside the country, foreign governments, and intentional forces.

Freeman made these remarks while speaking to Ethiopian news agency on Saturday.

“The massacre that occurred against the Amhara in Oromia is committed by ethnic national groups manipulated from outside of the country and inside the country by dark forces that want to make sure that Ethiopia is permanently destabilized,” the analyst argues.

According to Freeman, the dark forces outside of Ethiopia and inside the country which do not want to see a stable, prosperous and sovereign Ethiopia have exploited the situation.

He contends that as a result of a project to destabilize Ethiopia, ethnicity is clearly being manipulated in Ethiopia “because there are political forces that want to weaken Ethiopia and you should not discount the fact.”

Considering the recent surge of ethno-nationalist forces that are being supported by foreign agents, the analyst pointed out that the third-filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) could be an immediate cause.

“Within weeks ahead, it is going to be the third filling of the Grand Renaissance Dam, which has been opposed not just by Egypt and Sudan but also by the West. This dam produces electricity and could become a game changer in the Horn of Africa and there are people who don’t want that to happen.

“If you have people fighting each other and constant internal conflict, then you have an unstable government that can easily be manipulated for outside political purposes,” he noted.

Speaking on the commitment of the Ethiopian government for peace and to solve the conflict in northern Ethiopia, the analyst is doubtful about the seriousness of the terrorist TPLF which demands concessions.

He blamed western nations and media outlets for their failure to support the government from the outset.

“Ethiopia’s leadership need to embark on a process, actual discussion on the cultural political history of Ethiopia and what the nation state means to citizens of Ethiopia.

“As a strong nation state is now essential for the continuation of Ethiopian society and its economic development for generations, the government needs to have a much broader approach to this dialogue conception,” the analyst recommended.