Best Practices

Newsletter 9

Ethiopia, Champion of Peace

In the traditional power politics of the world, humanity is exhausted of successive wars. Peaceful negotiation to maintain international peace and security was unthinkable. At the end of the First World War the entire world was in need of relief system that could keep peace. It is then that the idea to set up the League of Nations cropped up in the minds of world leaders. Ethiopia being the founding member of the League of Nations was active in all its dealings.  

While an excellent international organ in theory, the League met with repeated problems in keeping its Member States with the shared belief that the acts of aggression and war were crimes against humanity and  that it is the interest and the duty of every Member States to join in preventing it. However, this cherished idea was paper tiger.  

The League of Nations couldn't last two decades as true force to keep global peace. The League failed to keep international peace and security.  It is this failure to take proper action upon fascist Italy's invasion of its member, Ethiopia that heralded its natural demise.                         

Even though Ethiopia trusted the League to intervene in averting the war, this world body imposed on arms embargo on both the aggressor and the victim of aggression. 

Inaction of the League paved the way for the establishment of its successor, the United Nations. Like the League, Ethiopia was the founder and have played vital role in all its endeavors for peace. 

Since then Ethiopia stands firm in the principle of defending justice when many others are threatened with aggression. With the bleeding and misery of humanity, Ethiopia is preoccupied with curbing endless wars. This has been true from its doorstep Somalia to Liberia.

Since 1948 there have been 60 peacekeeping operations by the UN of which Ethiopia was active participant. Though the world deserted Ethiopia by yielding to Italy with blatant violation of the Covenant, there was no time anything crossed their mind in failing   to avert war.  UN reports show that in 60 UN peace keeping operations created by the Security Council since 1988, close to 130 nations including Ethiopia have contributed personnel at various levels. 

Where conflicts appear, Ethiopia never refused to participate in bringing peace. The first time Ethiopia deployed its forces in peace mission was during the Korean War of 1951-54. 

This peace keeping witnessed the fact that distance is not a factor for Ethiopia to redress the wounds of those people who are victims of war.  In the Korea peace keeping records show that Ethiopia contributed 5,000 troops who served with competence and humanity. 

Arthur Lee, Burns, and Nina Heathcote, in their book entitled: “Peace Keeping by UN Forces” state that the first United Nations’ commanded explicit deployment of peace keeping is in Congo. Ethiopia responded positively for the United Nations’ call for collective security as enshrined in the Charter. The purpose of UN Missions in Congo/UNOC/ at first was to assist restoration of internal law. Later the Security Council authorized the use of force to prevent civil war. In the Congo peace keeping mission Ethiopia besides contributing cotingents, Lieutenant General Kebede Gebre has served as one of the Commanders of the mission. 

Ethiopia, as a lead nation was instrumental in the task of deterring mutiny in the newly independent Congo. Ethiopia with other peace loving nations worked for the territorial integrity and political independence, preventing civil war and removal of foreign elements.     

In a situation in which the developed nations are shying away from peace keeping operations, particularly in Africa, UN Deputy Secretary-General Louise Frechete said "most western nations  have been reluctant to provide peace keepers for Africa missions.’’  

In recent wars unfolding in Africa, Ethiopia's involvement has begun to be regarded as common. When tidal wave of killings engulfed Rwanda, Ethiopia was determined to join the international force, United Nation Assistance for Rwanda/UNAMIR/ to help the warring parties implement their agreement, monitor its implementation and support the then transitional government.  

In the Rwanda Peace Mission the Ethiopian contingent was able to win the hearts of both the Hutu and Tutsi not through coercion but love and passion. Ethiopian troops have opened a new chapter in the history of UN peacekeeping operations. The troops helped resettlement of 50,000 returnees. Further, owing to its attitude of disciplined impartiality and professional performance, the troops were also involved in the reconstruction of Rwanda to make it economically viable.  

Table 1 Ethiopia Peace keeping operations 

Both Liberia and Burundi have suffered from violent conflicts that were agonizing. Ethiopian troops are tirelessly working for a long aspiration of durable peace and security of the nations. These countries that were under total anarchy are steadily recovering. Peace has relatively prevailed and the whole situation is dramatically improving. 

The peace keeping effort has bore fruit as Liberia and Burundi went through an election, which could mark a major step forward. 

Here, a simple question could be posed why Ethiopia sends its troops in peace missions? Ethiopia believes that national security has become dependent on international security. In a world saturated with war, violence anywhere brings a threat dangerous to all. No matter how remote or small, maintaining peace should not be put for debate.   

Moreover, Ethiopia sees its own experience of failure by the League as valuable asset to be inside in the resolution of conflicts. Active participation in peace keeping demonstrates Ethiopia's historically strong endorsement of continents’ cooperation in matters of security.     

The year 2002 witnessed widening prospects for ending conflicts and raising hopes far peace in the war-torn Burundi. 

The world also stood up to bring an end to conflict in Burundi. This mission was going to be unique due its special mandate. As mentioned earlier, the UN was instrumental in the Peace Keeping mission. In the case of Burundi, the African Union (AU) was responsible for averting the gruesome conflict. And in 2003 Ethiopia, Mozambique and South Africa have contributed troops with the mandate of protecting cease- fire agreement, disarming and rehabilitating warring factions and prepare the groundwork for upcoming United Nation troops, among others. 

The Ethiopian troops are carrying out their mission with humanity and dignity. Parallel with Burundi, Ethiopia didn't hesitate to render a helping hand to Liberia, engulfed by 14 years of civil war.  

Despite the fact that Ethiopia was almost alone while fighting for a collective action in the then League of Nations, it has paid dearly for peace and stability in the world. Likewise, the Government the Federal Democratic Republic  of Ethiopia is committed to foster peace and play key role both at regional and continental levels more than ever before. 

It would remain to be source of inspiration for peace and reconciliation. 

The conflict management in Africa has undergone radical changes over the past decade. In 1993 the Central Organ of the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention Management and Resolution was established to undertake peace keeping, coordinating the activities of the Mechanism and so on. Ethiopia is selected as seat for conflict management Center and East Africa Stand -by High Readiness Brigade/SHIRBRIG/. 

As has been the case, Ethiopia is ready to make remarkable contribution towards the prevention and resolution of conflicts in Africa despite limitations in resource availability.