The Addis Ababa University (AAU) Community marched on a Silent Protest to the US Embassy in Addis Ababa denouncing and protesting against the current US Administration’s and Its allies’ inappropriate meddling in the internal affairs of Ethiopia.

The Silent Demonstration was held on the 2^nd of December 2021 in the morning, starting from Ras Mekonnen Hall in the Main Camps, Sidist Kilo, and heading to the Embassy of the United States of America in Addis Ababa.

Professor Kassahun Berhanu, the keynote speaker at the rally, reiterated that Ethiopia has more than a hundred years of diplomatic relations with many countries, including the USA and European countries. However, the behaviours and actions of some major actors in the west surrounding the conflict in our country, mainly the current US Administration and Its allies in the EU, have shown increasing tendency to intervene in Ethiopia’s internal affairs in ways that contravene the sovereignty and independence of Ethiopia, he added.

According to other participants in the rally, the current US Administration and Its allies in the West have been exerting several mounting infamous pressures against Ethiopia on the one hand but supporting the aggressor TPLF and its accomplice on the other hand while TPLF and its accomplice have been designated by the Ethiopian Parliament as Terrorist Groups.

“In the current context of the conflict in the northern part of Ethiopia, we see one-sided support, denial of facts, and activities that violate the sovereignty of our country,” still another participant likened and related these injustices to previous wrongs like the ‘arms embargo’ that was effected by the USA and France when Ethiopia was invaded by Italy and later by Somalia, as well as to the League of Nations’ betrayal of Ethiopia during those times.

Placards held by participants emphasised that the current US Administration’s position will taint the longstanding relationship that has existed between the governments and peoples of Ethiopia and the USA.

Members of the Crowd waved the National Flag of the FDRE, the flag of the AU, and that of the AAU. Many more also carried a number of slogans printed in red on white placards. Some of the mottos they carried high up in front of the USA Embassy read:

#Stop Meddling in Our Internal Affairs;

#NoMore Fake News;

#Stop Weaponzing Aid!

# Hands off Ethiopia!

#USA: 117 years of Friendship at Stake!

#PasPlus!

#Long Live Pan-Africanism!

#AAU: the cradle of Pan-Africanism

#Viva Emperor Hailesellassie

#Viva Sedar Senghor

#Viva Jemmo Kenyatta

#Viva Julius Nyerrere

#Viva Nelson Mandela

#Respect for Marcus Garvey!

#Respect for Kwame Nkrumah!

#Respect for Martin Luther King!

#Adwa is today!

#The GERD is a Reality!

#Ethiopia Prevails!

As the Embassy staffer came close to the crowd, the demonstrators turned their back on the Embassy, convening the strong message that “Ethiopia and Ethiopians are disappointed and could turn down the relationship with your government”.

The AAU Vice Presidents and the Silent Protest Organizers also handed over a protest letter with position statements to the representative from the Embassy. Then, the demonstrators marched back to the Addis Ababa University campuses discussing the dismal positions of the Current US Administration and the West against Ethiopia.

By: The Silent Demonstration Committee

Photo: Fikremariam Beyene

Editor: Abraham Girmay