It has been quite a while now since few disillusioned Ethiopian Diasporas especially those residing in North America have been very active in major fund-raising schemes in order to support the opposition parties in Ethiopia, especially the CUD. The CUD extremist leadership have likewise been very busy knocking at every governmental, non-governmental as well as at every doors of some disillusioned Ethiopian Diasporas mainly in Europe and North America. These unholy alliances of the extremist CUD leadership and their supporters from within and abroad; in other words the alliance between the corner of extremism and their false believers has been going on for a while now. Names such as “Wegenhen Erda” and other convenient names have been used in disguise to collect money from individuals and/or groups not as its name indicates for helping poor people or needy people in Ethiopia but rather to support the CUD’s menacing agenda. Using different names, they continue to collect astronomical amount of money that directly falls into these extremist CUD leadership and is used to initiate violence and anarchy here back home. In other words, these disillusioned Diaspora Ethiopians instead of using their hard earned money for a noble and productive cause such as for poverty reduction and for sustainable development: the number one priority of the Ethiopian people, their money is wasted simply for causing lawlessness and anarchy in Ethiopia. It has become a public knowledge now that they are contacting some well-to-do Ethiopian Diasporas either directly or indirectly via the Internet, by post and through other media communications for fund raising. These self-serving collectors are also using different strategies on different times in order to collect money. Get together parties, religions ceremonies, sport gatherings, electronic fund raising schemes; personal contacts are among some of the tactics they use to collect money. As a result, millions of birr has been collected and distributed for this unholly purposes. The rest have been used to make the CUD extremist leadership and their collectors rich very fast. This collected money has also been used to mobilize and fund unemployed and confused innocent youth to engage in illegal and violent activities back home. Further, it has also been used to buy votes for the opposition party in general and that of the CUD in particular especially in Addis Ababa.

 Experience of many Diasporas such as that of Korea, India, and Vietnam and even in our continent that of Ghana and the internationally un-recognized nation of Somaliland teaches us that Diasporas initiatives and their remittance has made major contribution to their national economy and their national development activities. In that regard, Diasporas from these and other nations have done a commendable job in helping the economy of their country of origin. Political differences between and among Diasporas did not hinder their investment initiatives and the contributions they make to assist their country’s economy. In fact, they continue to invest in variety of development oriented and skill oriented schemes in their country of origin. Further, they continue to help promote good image of their country by acting as ambassadors of their country of origin. They also help promote tourism, investment and other useful initiatives that generate hard currency useful in their country of origin. As a result, their country of origin benefited both economically and diplomatically. On the other hand, some disillusioned Ethiopian Diasporas possess an infamous reputation for conducting confrontations; political rang lings and unproductive demonstrations that only add fuel to fire. Instead of providing constructive contribution, they are putting destructive causalities that simply exacerbate poverty and under development. Whereas other Diasporas invest on education, health and many other vital and development oriented endeavors, these disillusioned Ethiopians are using their hard earned money for destructive and detrimental activities back home and abroad. Their money could have been better served had it been used for building schools, hospitals, training centers and other productive and constructive things that will directly benefit the public at large back home in Ethiopia. These Ethiopian Diasporas who by and large outnumber many African Diasporas in North America are doing much less in comparison to other African Diasporas on development oriented endeavor and much more in distinctive, destabilizing and illegal activities. What a paradox!

 Ethiopia is classified among the poorest nations in the world; therefore, any positive input and that includes input such as remittance from its Diaspora population can have significant contribution to the economy of the country. The country can also benefit from innovative experience and initiative of its Diaspora population. There are few genuine Diaspora Ethiopians who have contributed and continue to do their share in that regard; however, by and large, significant numbers of Ethiopian Diasporas have become victims of extremist CUD propaganda and their efforts have unfortunately focused on illegal and destructive activities. As a result, they are becoming out of touch with the reality back home. The confusion on the part of these disillusioned Diaspora Ethiopians is hurting both themselves and their country of origin. On the one hand, they are wasting their money, their energy and time and on the other hand, they are tarnishing their country’s image and their country’s international reputation. Such huge damage on both sides continues to be quite alarming.

 Ethiopia can not afford political as well as economic sabotage. What it needs most is peace, stability in order to achieve economic prosperity. Ethiopian Diasporas can do more to promote peace, stability and democratic process because they are most placed to do so. It is not fair to advance violence and turbulence that have damaging consequences while they reside comfortably in peaceful and stable European and North American cities. Ethiopian Diasporas know that the society they live in denounces violence and promotes peace, stability, democratization and good governance. They also realize or at least understand that dialogue and certainly not violence is the order of the day within the countries they reside. So why do they want violence, anarchy and lawlessness elsewhere far away from where they are? Isn’t that the same like the donkey’s saying “Eney kemoteku Serdo ayebkel!”