Yesterday, the body of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi arrived in Ethiopia from Brussels. No one is sure yet how he died, but that’s part of the secrecy which shrouded his authoritarian rule.
The story matters to America because Ethiopia’s dictator was an ally in the fight against Al Qaeda in
Somalia. Thanks to that allegiance, the US looked the other way on things like how the Zenawi regime jailed opposition leaders and journalists, and led Ethiopia to a ranking of 174 out of 187 countries in the Human Development Index, which measures human rights.
We saw what an african police state looked like when I was in Ethiopia last month.
At the airport, it took an hour to clear customs – not because of lines, but because of checks and questioning. Officials tried multiple times to take us to government cars so they’d know where we went. They only relented after forcing us to leave hundreds of thousands of dollars of TV gear in the airport.
Outside the airport, we saw a crowd. Inside, it was empty. When we asked the people why, they said they’re not allowed to greet their arriving families and friends indoors because the police are worried about unrest. So the people wait outside, exposed to the elements.
One visual that ties some of this together is a photo of myself and our cameraman Christian next to a Lada. Those are the ancient Russian cars which are still the taxi cab of choice in Addis Ababa – left over from when Ethiopia was a socialist ally of the USSR.
Maybe that’s why the United States is so proud of winning Ethiopia over as an ally – it’s proof we won the Cold War. But despite supporting a regime that has deprived its nation of a free press, we’re not reaping the benefits you might expect.
Who is? Aside from the regime itself, the answer is China. Chinese businessmen are everywhere in the capital. China is the biggest investor in Ethiopia now, spending money on infrastructure and other construction projects and building better economic connections with the country.
Here’s the bottom line: the United States gives a billion dollars a year in aid to a dictator, looks the other way on human rights, and China gets the prize.
Ugly.
Tags: Addis Ababa, Meles Zenawi
Dang
August 27, 2012 at 12:00 am
Technically speaking the heavy military weapons in a country like Ethioipia are still need either China or Russia bullets. Because they were bought from these two countries. Any ordinary individual knows unless America supplied the tank it is true Ethiopian tanks take China bullets. All the other senarios works just like that.
America and Western countries give the money for any reason; then China do the final job. This works in all sectors of the economy; including, road, telecom, bulging construction, heavy duty machined is supply and installatin and factories building and installation.
So I am paying tax in America. Is the money I am paying killing my own blood. Answer me?….?????.
Dang
August 26, 2012 at 11:46 pm
American money is not helping Africa. Or any other country in the world. It co back to the lender. Do you think China simply borrow trillions of dollars to make America the police of the world? You fool When China lent a penny to America it is sure will get it back in different forms.
American tax payers please do not fool your selve. You know what is happening? If not let me tell you. Here is the truth. You pay tax to fill more than trillion dollar budget gap for Obama dreams to running an imaginary economy, he go to China he borrow money and give it to the dictators in the world. Like Meles zenawi, who just died because he could not manage billions of dollars he got from America. That was just because he invade One of the black nehibboughr in Africa. Can any one tell me the proportion of weaponse used in Somalia. How many % China and how many % China. For your surprise except supplied in physical item all were purchased from China. So Meles was fighting Americas war in Somalia. With America money. But weaponse purchase from China using Americans money. This is a simple scenario how American tax payer is supporting the development of China at the expense of USA.
Markos Assefa
August 25, 2012 at 2:02 pm
“The West has a very low standard for African leaders. By that standard, Meles was an exceptional leader to them, so they bestowed on him all kinds of accolades in the past and on the occasion of his passing. If any leader in the West did a fraction of the crimes Meles did, they would have gone for his throat. But for an African tyrant, killing 200 innocent people in broad day light, children and the elderly included, and throwing tens of thousands to jail does not tilt the scale against him just yet. What is so sensational about hundreds dead by bullets of a tyrant in a land where tens of thousands die of starvation, seems the sentiment. The West’s assessment of African affairs and African politics and economics remains hollow and self serving.
It is very sad to see the USA playing its old double standrd game.For the USA, it doesn’t matter if an African leader or any leader is a dictator, tyrant and butcher as long as its national interset is served. Whent dictators like Sadam Hussien, Gadafi, Hosni Mubare, Mugabe refusedto serve the interest of USA, then they are considerd enemies. Otherwise, what is the difference between dictator Meles Zenawi and the above mentioned dictators or any other tyrant in the world ? Because Mele Zenawi fought a unnecessary and senseless war in Somalia shedding the blood of poor Ethiopian son & daughters for America. He was a pupet of America. For all his crime against humanity, he got the death ticket from God ! America, we don’t need you if you keep standing with dictators in Ethiopia.
Dashen Teresa
August 24, 2012 at 10:14 am
Thank you for your excellent work. Your name will stay in Ethiopian history like the TV journalist Jonathan Dimbleby, who exposed the true seriousness of the 1974 famine in Ethiopia. I hope Obama and his administration will learn from this and correct their mistake. The death of Meles Zenaw is a nice opportunity for EPRDF to drop their policy, make the institutions free from serving the government, respect human and individual right and free all political prisoners. That is the only way if they want to stay in power otherwise what we see now is not the true feeling of the Ethiopian people.
Dubale Ayana
August 24, 2012 at 12:58 am
The first Western Journalist to tell the truth Erin this is just the tip of the ice burg at least you have exposed some thing thank you
michael Amare
August 23, 2012 at 9:48 pm
Erin you know it. He was a dictator. One reason often mentioned why it is not allowed to greet is the Meles government donot want the people to see while thousands of girls sold to Arab countries. Probably they hide them while you are there (intellenegent agencies are tight) otherwise always inside the terminal full of teenage girls even morethan the crowd outside. The government is trying to fool us..yeah he is with out question a dictator.
habibe
August 23, 2012 at 7:09 pm
Nera shefer (CNN JOURNALIST), you are the real journalist who exposed the dictator usual action. Melese Zenawe is one of the greatest dictator of africa leader. a hundreds journalist and opposition leader jailed by the pretext reason of melese regime. No freedom and democracy. no human right. we can not speaking about the mistake of the government.even we can not discus with our friends about government b/c it is extremism according to dictator regulation . people always jailed and killed by special military organization of a dictator.people need a basic question of bread, freedom and democracy.This is the Aprtide rule in Ethiopia because Melese ethnics group have special right to do as they want and need. all economy and authority given his mafia group. no one have right to get job in government office except Party member and dictator ethnics group.people always prayed to god for 21 years for bring peace and democracy. After 21 years the dictator died with his allied leader of Ethiopian church in the same week.i am sorry world great leade including Obama and devid camerone had given a million dollar to dictator melese which is not invested in the country. A dollar will transfer to dictator account in the foreign country. We Ethiopian people are struggling to bring freedom and democracy with real journalist in the world like NERA SHEFER
Mulu
August 23, 2012 at 7:02 pm
I never think there is honesty in American political circle because with out America the Ethiopian evil government could be destroyed long time ago. Now CNN(Erin) is telling the truth to the American tax payer. We urge to United states to stop supporting this evil group and let the Ethiopian people decide their future.
Selam to Ethiopia
August 23, 2012 at 6:01 pm
What an eye-opening message to those who have the brain to realize Erin. God bless you! What you did is really amazing and a whole truth. The Chinese case is one main issue that need immediate attention. Who gave them that opportunity? the government did! Taking lands from the poor farmers and giving it to them. There should be a means to move out those Chinese people out from that blessed country before they drain her out. Let them just stay in their country and find a means for themselves. It just annoys me really………instead of encouraging the Ethiopians who daily strive to get somewhere to support their families, the Ethiopian government is feeding others without giving attention to the millions who are starving in Ethiopia. What a shame?! Who should come first? your own people or others? Well the answer depends on the leader. We don’t see that in America nor in any other developed countries…..but in Ethiopia – where citizens are treated as immigrants and immigrants treated as citizens. Well here is my message to the U.S, or any other European counries, who thinks they are supporting the poor Ethiopians, you are mistaken……whether you are doing it intentionally or unintentionally, you better check what you are supporting before streching your hand for “help.” Because what you are really doing now is not a charity but rather suppressing humanity.
beke
August 23, 2012 at 5:41 pm
Erin
you are the voice for the voiceless.
Aster Dejene
August 23, 2012 at 5:04 pm
Very well said ! Now after hearing it from one of your own , Mr.Obama and Mrs.Clinton what would be your legacy? Is it to continue supporting Zenaw’s remenents or standing by the vast majority of Ethiopian people who are starving for DEMOCRACY and FREEDOM ? This is your chance to mend the damage you caused in our heart, for long lasting relationship between the people of Ethiopia and the US .
alemu
August 23, 2012 at 2:03 pm
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443989204577603000715125364.html?mod=googlenews_ws
nebelbal
August 23, 2012 at 12:48 pm
Sad but true and guess what they didn’t even know his real name! lol
Selamawit Solomon
August 23, 2012 at 12:41 pm
Wow Erin the is journalism at its best -thank you to be a voice for the voiceless millions of ethiopians including hundreds of pro democracy journalists are suffering underthe brutal and inhuman dictatorship of meles zenawi .thanks God almighty,-ETHIOPIAS GOD SPEAKS LOUD AND CLEAR ,Zenawi and his hand picked fake patriarch(TPLF cadre) died in the same week
Gobena
August 23, 2012 at 12:36 pm
I say Chapeau to cnn, again u demonstrated as a number One free and fair news store. For us and western ‘democracies’ as long as u do their Dirty job, no matter how long u stay in power as a dictator, no matter how millions suffer from lack of basic human rights.keep on doing the right..
Gobe.rome