From September 15 to 17, a conflict, right outside of Addis Ababa, in a small town of Burayu shocked the city and the country. 50 people were killed, many more were injured. Almost all, who lost their lives were injured are citizens, young people, who came to Addis across 450 Kilometers from the Southern Ethiopian city of Arba Minch and it’s environs lured by the life of “glamour” of big city. Yet, they ended up doing menial jobs to make ends meet and live away from the city that lured them, because they couldn’t afford it.
450 kilometers away in Arba Minch, when their devastating loss is heard, those who know them best, their families, friends and youth of Gamo, Gofa, Dorze and other community, which they came from were fuming. They wanted to take a revenge. They came out with their swords and machetes to the street of Arba Minch to get back at the Oromo community, who they believed was responsible to attack their men and women in Burayu. Their target of revenge was destroying Oromo-owned businesses and taking some Oromo lives.
What happened after that is what made me brought here to opine. The Gamo elders and intellectuals, reverted to their old culture to avert this disaster. They gathered on the main square holding grass in their hands, got down on their knees and pleaded to the angry youth to stop doing what they intend to do. They youth listened. With that, so many lives were saved and no property was damaged.
This is what humanity decency and amazing societal value means. Gamo elders preventing angry youth from attacking #Oromo owned businesses in the city of #Arbaminch Guess what?! The youth listened. #Ethiopia @girma_mohammed @mahlet_mesfin @Abelpoly @AtnafB pic.twitter.com/i6BUnZXTHm
— Naty Berhane Yifru (@Natberh) September 17, 2018
Forwarding to October 14, 2018, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took Eritrean President Isayas Afeworki to Arba Minch, on their way to inaugurate a sugar factory. The purpose of his visit to Arba Minch was to thank the Gamo elders for what they did to avert a bloodshed and control a volatile situation that would have made a horrific scene.
President Isaias was there to hear all of this.
President Isaias Afwerki.
The same man, who arrested, exiled and caused the disappearance of his country’s elder statesmen, who could have negotiated conflicts and settled disputes in his country. He has thrown in jail a 90 year old cleric, who had a lot of wisdom and courage to stand up with him. The old man died in jail. In 2001, he arrested Eritrean elders when they tried to mediate a conflict Isaias Afwerki was having with his own colleagues, whom he has made to disappear without a trace.
Yet, there he was, standing and listening to all of this. I wonder what was going through his mind, when he has heard what was said about Gamo elders.
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