Ethiopian dictatorship uses food aid to punish dissent: HRW

Human Rights Watch has accused the Ethiopian regime of using food aid to punish political opponents.

HRW reports that farmers who do not support the ruling party of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi are rebuffed in their attempts to gain access to loans, fertilizer and seeds.

The NGO added families of opposition members are banned from a food for work project which supports seven million poor people in Ethiopia.

These are particularly heinous acts in a country suffering from chronic food shortages.

Ethiopia is one of the world's largest recipients of foreign aid, receiving over $3 billion from abroad in 2008.

Despite these actions and the de facto dictatorship's repressive crackdown on dissent, HRW noted that foreign aid to the regime doubled between 2004 and 2008.

Transition (sort of) to come in Addis?

Africa Confidential has an interesting interview with Ethiopian strongman Meles Zenawi.

When asked what African countries can do for themselves to diminish the effects of the global economic downturn, the prime minister replied, "Well, in the end no amount of money that comes in from abroad is going to do the task for us."

Ironic comment considering Ethiopia has long been one of the world's largest per capita recipients of international "development" aid.

He also hinted at a generational transition, though as someone who's been in power for 18 years, the proof of the pudding will be in the cake.

Meles said, "The old leadership which was leading the [ruling] EPRDF during the armed struggle and up to now, myself included. That, to some extent is a sign of strength and it is also a sign of weakness that needs to be addressed and, as I said, the EPRDF is aware of it and is trying to address it. It is not just about X, Y or Z, it is about the whole group of leadership which has been in very senior leadership positions for a bit too long for the health of the party."

When asked if he was expecting a collective transition, he replied, "Yes, I think that the next crucial step needs to be taken."

It remains to be seen if there will be a real transition, both in personality and mentality. One signal: if the opposition will be able to demonstrate without being massacred.

Ethiopia to withdraw from Somalia

Two years after an invasion to ensure instability in Somalia, Ethiopia has announced it will end its occupation of its neighbor by the end of the year.

Yet more war fears in the Horn

Earlier this week, fears of yet another war in the Horn of Africa were raised after Eritrea evicted the UN mission monitoring the border between itself and Ethiopia. The move was ratified by the Security Council shortly thereafter.

In the last decade, the countries have fought a bloody and incomprehensibly stupid war over a patch of sand known as Badme. It was so insane that the war was likened to 'two bald men fighting over a comb.'

Eritrea tried to allay fears of a new war by stating the the UN mission's presence was merely 'symbolic' so its departure won't matter much. It also accused Ethiopia of continuing to occupy Eritrean territory.

Probably a more compelling reason that makes another war unlikely is that Ethiopian forces are otherwise engaged in their US-backed aggression against Somalia.

The dynamics of food aid

The IRIN has a piece analyzing how the dynamics of food aid and the role of NGOs may change if the price of food keeps rising.

Eritrean opposition starts broadcasts

Radio Netherlands' Media Network blog reports that a coalition of opposition exiles have launched radio broadcasts against the regime of Eritrean dictator Isaias Afewerki. Not surprisingly, the broadcasts emanate from Ethiopia, specifically the country's northern Tigray region.

The coalition also recently started television broadcasts based out of the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

They denied that the Ethiopian government had any role in the broadcasts.

24 Somali casualties as US targets one terrorist

Despite what you might think, Iraq and Afghanistan are not the only countries that the United States is meddling in militarily. President Bush felt that American national security would be harmed if he didn't order a bombing raid on a small village in southern Somalia.

The target, according to a Bush spokesman, was a 'known al-Qaeda terrorist.'

A terrorist (singular).

The raid killed four and wounded 20.

It is unclear if any of the 24 casualties were actually the alleged terrorist (singular) in question.

Just click your heels and intone, "They hate us because we're free."

This is at least the second US bombing raid against Somalia in a year.

The situation in Somalia had stabilized a bit after the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) took control of most of the country in 2006.

But the humanitarian situation deteriorated significantly since an US-backed Ethiopian aggression overthrew the UIC in late 2006.

An occupation which, the Ethiopians promised, would only last a month or two.

Last month, the UN called Somalia the worst place in the world for children.

But it's hardly surprising that Ethiopian-occupied Somalia is a disaster, since the Addis Ababa regime stands accused of Darfur-like atrocities in its own territory.