Transparency: a scarce commodity in Ethiopia

Transparency: a scarce commodity in Ethiopia

When conspiracy to commit atrocities and corruption find safe heaven people suffer in poverty and lack of freedom and, nations become playgrounds of tyrannies and associates. When capable people are indifference not to establish the institutions necessary to do something about it, crimes goes unpunished and criminals rule.

Wishing freedom and democracy without transparent institutions to punish the decadent operatives serving the ruling tyranny is like pouring water in a bucket full of holes; now you see it now you don’t.

It is about time to realize the few existing institution need our support to build their capacity and many more transparent advocacy institutions in every sector are needed to punish the regime’s operatives and challenge the international community that sustains it.  Those that have the knowledge and the leadership skills to establish transparent institutions to challenge tyranny and all of us on behalf of the people are the true leaders we can all be proud.

When the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiatives (EITI) was established 2003 it was to institute industry standard for ‘accountable management of revenues from natural resources’ so that the money earned from extracting minerals can be put  for public good than go into the pockets of corrupt government officials and operatives.

EITI Chairperson Clair Short and EEITI Chair and Ethiopian Ministry of Mine Sinknesh Ejigu EITI rejection of the Ethiopian regime’s membership application in 2010 was precisely because the regime isn’t remotely close to fulfilling the basic transparency requirements like everything it does in the free press, justice, the economy, the integrity of the nation and her people.

The ruling party that made career out of making economic of extractions and extortion a policy is not only corrupt to bone to qualify as a member of EITI but, it doesn’t have the mandate or the legitimacy to extract public resources.

The problems have always been the timid international community’s failure to standup to the regimes — choosing to accommodate them instead of chastises them to surrender power.

But, misery always find companion somewhere. When the regime was rejected in the first round in 2010 it reapplied in October of 2013– after it setup the bogus Ethiopian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EEITI) in what now  appears with the help of the EITI’s Chairperson Clare Short that supposedly hired to independently evaluate the regime. The Chairperson of the newly formed Ethiopian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EEITI) is none other than the regime’s Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Mistier of Mine Sinknesh Ejigu, according to the regime’s application to EITI.

This time around, EITI’s Board Chair, Clair Short decided to ignore her mandate to campaign on behalf of the regime with an open letter to Ali Idrissa, Faith Nwadishi and Jean-Claude Katende –the International EITI’s Board members and associates of Publish What You Pay (PWYP),  ‘a global network of civil society organizations united in their call for an open and accountable extractive sector’. Her sorry argument of officially asking ‘the fox to guard the chickens’ is unprecedented in the free world.

Professor Al Mariam’s article titled Mining Corruption in Ethiopia: A Reply to Clare Short eloquently described EITI’s Chairperson’s lack of transparency and ethics. It should be a lesson for all foreign apologists of the regime that mingles with depots behind closed doors.

Short, should have known better than behaving like paid lobbyist of the depot she is delegated to evaluate. Instead, she blamed the Diaspora and international civil societies on behalf of an outdated and corrupt ethnic tyranny to have open season in extracting minerals. Reading the embarrassing Ethiopian regime’s application alone should have been enough for her to stay away as far as the regime.

The respond to her open letter is going to be the beginning-and-end of her career from the very institution that expects transparency. Her open letter appears there is a force that enticed her to publicly self-incriminate herself defending a serial abuser of human rights and

economics of extortion. Some of Africa Humanitarian Action actors (left to right), Co-Chairman Al Amoudi Trustee Clair Short and Constantinos Berhe Tesfu and Dr. Dawit Zewde (President and Founder of AHA)

What motivated EITI Chair to go beyond the call of duty is yet to be determined. But, her association as a trustee  of an outfit called African Humanitarian Action  based in Ethiopia may have something to do with it. Among the trustee of AHA is the Co-Chairman Sheikh Mohammed Al Amoudi, an Ethiopian-born Saudi investor and a stanch supporter of the ruling regime that have multiple mining interests among many other investments in Ethiopia.  How Al Amoudi ended up Co-chairing a ‘humanitarian’ organization and EITI’s Chairperson happened to end up the trustee of the same organization is as mysteries as her open letter campaign on behalf of the rogue  regime.

African Humanitarian Action (AHA)  itself is a peculiar organization as many operating in Ethiopia. Founded and led by mysterious man by the name of Dr. Dawit Zewde (the President) since 1995. The outfit claims to engage with multiple humanitarian activities from capacity building and HIV prevention all the way to relief and public advocacy. But, according to its published budget on Ethiopia; a total of 8.3 million dollar was spent from 1995-2012–an average of half a million dollars per year in its 17 years existence. There is no information what exactly was done with less than half-a-million dollars budget that required the time and effort of all the characters involved, including the billionaire-investor Sheikh Al Amoudi and EITI’s Chairperson Short among many.  If we recall, Al Amoudi budgeted more money to destroy the Ethiopian Sport Federation in North America (ESFNA) than the Ethiopian budget of AHA he co-chair. 

Another interesting character is one of the dozen trustees of African Humanitarian Action by the name Dr Constantinos Berhe Tesfu, the Founder and Board Chairman of Lem Ethiopia’. Established in 1992, LE claims to be ‘a citizen’s movement on environment & sustainable development, according to its websites. It also prides to have the former President, Girma W/Ghiorgis as Co-founder and on the Board of the organization. Two websites are found under Lem Ethiopia registered by Mogues Worku and administered by Yemisraknesh Solomon, according to Network Solution  and http://www.lemethiopia.org.et  with unidentified local server. Both websites have pretty much the same content except one have Report  and Activity   section.  Established 22 years ago Lem Ethiopia doesn’t revile its funding sources but, only began reporting its expenditure starting in 2001 and ending 2007, according to one of the website.

Constantinos Berhe Tesfu, PhD is also involved in the Centre for Human Environment and Development and also referred as Consultant for European Union, Directorate for Development, according to A Pilot Study on NGOs — Community-Based and Civil Society Organizations in Ethiopia he himself conducted.

Transparency a scarce commodity in the ruling regime of Ethiopia

The regime and its operatives literally took the nation as their private property to do whatever they feel like it. Government agencies and public enterprises are used and abused for economic benefit of the ruling party and associates.  The court system and the security and military are the tools of the ruling party to undermine and marginalize Ethiopians to sustain its rule and corruption. Front ‘civil societies’ undermine independent institutions and are used as tools to launder foreign aid with bogus project to sustain the regime.

When that is not enough, international organizations are compromised by rogue individuals like it is the case with EITI’s Board Chairperson to campaign on behalf of the regime based on an application best described by Prof Al Mariam as ‘the biggest package of padded fluff’.

It illustrates the international community complicity and Ethiopians failure to establish the necessary transparency institutions to go after the corrupt individuals and institutions in-and-out of the country.  Instead, we react to events with barrage of articles and protests.  Quite frankly, our failure left the field wide open for the regime’s operatives and others to get away with ‘murder’.

For instance, the responsible Minster and Ministry for ‘the biggest package of padded fluff’application is Sinknesh Ejigu, the Ethiopian Federal Democratic Republic Minster of Mine and the Chairperson of EEITI  with a contact #  2 5 1 -1 1 6 4 6 3 3 5 7  and Email –sinkmme@yahoo.com,  according to the application submitted to EITI. The Minster’s unverifiable Bio is also posted on Ethiopian Women Unleashed’s website with disclaimer of no responsibility to the reliability of the information given by the Minster.

For the most part, the lack of Ethiopian’s watchdog groups in every sector allowed her to do anything she feel like it like many of the regime’s operatives do in every sector with impunity; leaving Ethiopians to relay on international organizations to expose corruption, atrocities, lack of freedom and democracy. The front institutions TPLF created on the graves of independent civil society at home seem to be the only ones running the show.

No one knows why the Minster conspires to conceal important information like the involvement of the ruling party affiliated extractive industries and to present impotent organizations under the ruling party’s leash as civil society on the application to EITI.  Such self-incriminating act is clear indication the impunity of the regime’s officials and operatives for luck of institutions that purse them to face justice in the appropriate international jurisdictions.

Looking at the official website of the Ministry further illustrates whether she is running a public Ministry or a front lookalike to hide the activities of the ruling party. First, Minster Sinknesh Ejigu is nowhere to be found on the official website of the government Ministry she is in charge. Nor, after 23 years of rule, there is anything worthy of information on the news and event section except what is described as ‘final reconciliation report’ for EITI and ‘Citizen Charter’, whatever it means for a government Ministry. The contact section of the website lists the different departments’ personnel and phone numbers with no contact e-mails. In fact, the only e-mail regarding the Ministry is the personal e-mail of Minster Sinknesh provided on the official application to EITI.  What kind of Minster provides a personal e-mail on an official application for membership of an international organization alone shows the out of control regime and its officials and the lack of institutions to do something about it.

Pasted on the front page of the website are what the application refers as “the two year plan and the Memorandum of understanding among multi-stakeholder group was designed and signed, and up loaded on the web site of the Ministry, including public statement and Civil Society calling document”.  It appears the Ministry is only concerned about EITI than the public it suppose to serve.

Some of the content of the Application itself tells more story of a desperate regime wanting membership badly for the obvious reason. For example, trying to impress EITI the regime led by Minster Sinknesh rounded up civil society lookalikes representing what the application refers as ‘multi-stakeholder’.  It says; ‘Establishing Multi-stakeholder group to oversee the implementation of EITI

1.4.1 The government through the delegated government organ (Ministry of Mines) has established multi-stakeholder working group or National steering committee (NSC) comprising an appropriate private and/or state owned company, civil society and Government organ or ministries.

1.4.2 The National steering Committee (NSC) was represented from each constituency equally through clear and open discussion made among each group during the launching of EEITI.

1.4.3 Ethiopian National Steering Committee has enacted and signed a memorandum of understanding that enabled them to operate freely without hold back, restraint or coercion including by liaising with their constituency groups”.

Among the stakeholders are Transparency Ethiopia, the sister Chapter of the renowned corruption fighter Transparency International (TI) represented by Eyasu Yimer (left), the Executive Director  and the Chairman of the Board, Dr Berhanu Asefa and  The Ethiopian National Journalist Union represented by Anteneh Abraham Babanto, the President (right) and  the officers of ENJU. The union is described as ‘government-controlled’ by the Committee to Protect Journalists. 

                   

Eyasu Yimer of TE is under the governance and accountability  of the parent organization Transparency International (TI). Since its establishment there is noting it accomplished except survey on corruption, round table discussion and ‘educating’ the public about corruption on radio controlled by the regime.

Eyasu’s  LinkedIn profile reviles he is a capable manger along Chairman of the Board Dr Berhanu Asefa and the rest of officers.  But yet, no investigation or report of the ruling regime’s owned and operated companies and associates’ corruption in all sectors of the economy are found on the official website since its formation.   It lacks any resemblance of a Transparency International’s Chapter that worth to carry the name of its parent organization.

Likewise, Anteneh Abraham Babanto of ENJA’s Face book profile claims ‘he works for International Federation of Journalist and is a student in Addis Ababa University’. There is no record of him working IFJ on the official website of IFG but, his organization is listed as Member.

In addition, the three other organizations that were presented as representatives of civil society on the government’s application are; Ethiopian Youth Federation founded in 2009 according to the British Council, Ethiopian Federation of National Associations of People with Disabilities, and  Consortium of Christian Relief and Development Association.  None of the organization has background on the extractive industry in the country and has no independent information except what the regime tells them. Therefore, the leaders should be responsible for conspiring with the regime to be used as a front. Notifying them to their responsibility and the consequences of conspiring with the regime against the interest of the people of Ethiopia is appropriate.

The application goes on to describe’ the objective of implementing the requirement’ for membership

“Objective of Implementing EITI in Ethiopia       

• To establish a system through which companies and government disclose the payments and revenues generated from the extractive sector in Ethiopia

• To carry out reconciliation and/audit of the disclosed statement of companies and government by independent administrator

• To develop a mechanism through which the citizens of Ethiopia access all the information regarding the extractive industry

• To establish a forum under which all the concerned parties; the government, the civil society and extractive companies work together for the development of the mineral industry of the country and bring sustainable development,

• To establish transparency and accountability in the management of mineral resources including oil and gas and to foresee the minerals development of Ethiopia play a major role on the socio economic development of the country for the benefit of Ethiopians.”

None of the above ever had been the objective of the regime in anything it does since it came

to power. But, TPLF operatives’ appetite to gable up public resources through their corrupt companies would say and do anything to get access to international finance and market.

The Ministry of Mine is the tip of the iceberg of an out-of-control regime in every branches of the government.

The million dollar question for Ethiopians is; where are the institutions to follow up on individuals, groups businesses and government ministries and agencies involved in corruption and atrocities to make them face justice and the public they have been abusing for over two decades.

What Ethiopians can do to bring about transparency-democracy?

In case of EITI Chairman outrageous behavior,  contacting responsible stakeholders Civil Societies, Institutional Investors and Partner Organization of  EITI  to investigate Short and demand she disclose all her associations with the regime and associated interest groups is the duty of every Ethiopian to speed up the demise of the accomplice of tyranny.

In cases of the out of control officials, associates and operatives of the ruling regime, Ethiopian institutions or individuals must compile and document who-is-who starting from the top 100 brass of the current regime (individuals, family members, assets and work location and where about) in clear details and sent out to all concerned; opposition parties, legitimate media and civil societies and concerned international organizations.

Reactive actions aside, the ultimate solution to bring about accountability and democratic rule is to build the capacity of the existing or establishing new institutions in every sector to proactively go after the regime’s outlaws and anyone involved in crimes against the people.

The role of Ethiopian Intelligencia and advocacy group and the Media

For the most part, the Ethiopian Intelligencia, particularly the Diasporas in the free world failed to establish the necessary independent watchdog institutions in every sector to protect the public from the ruling regime’s atrocities and corruption and the transgressions of other interest groups. They, for the most part left the responsibility for a few institutions and international organizations-leaving the field wide open for foreigners and lobbyist of the regime and apologist to battle it out on the expenses of the people of Ethiopia.

The handful of advocacy groups that show extraordinary effort to raise the voice of Ethiopians often are overwhelmed to address the ruling regime’s massive human right violation,  atrocities and corruption. For instance, the Solidarity Movement for New Ethiopia led by the Executive Director Obang Metho persistent effort to engage international civil society on human right issues is good example that should be supported and replicated in every other sector around the world. Advocating for Media freedom, human development promotion, democratic institution building, corruption fighting and economic justice are some of the issues that are awaiting institutional advocacy.

Yet, many of the Intelligencia write effectively — raising most of the burning issues on paper but failed short of establishing the necessary institutions to engage civil societies, concerned governmental, international and Media organizations to bring about transparency and confront their peers that are reduced as instrument of the ruling tyranny.

The role of independent Media in particular is crucial to follow up on the ruling tyranny and associates as well as others that violet the public trust. The free press can also play an important role in demanding transparency from existing institutions and challenging the Intelligencia to establish the necessary institutions that are missing.

The Ethiopian Satellite Television-Radio (ESAT) became a shining light preciously because it demands transparency from the ruling regime and all others. It is also the ideal public forum to engage the Intelligencia to establish the necessary institutions in every sector.

As the Chairperson of Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative fiasco reviled how far the ruling regime and its associate will go to corrupt international organizations, Ethiopian advocacy groups in Diaspora must follow-up on the regime’s operatives and take the appropriate actions.

When conspiracy to commit atrocities and corruption find safe heaven people suffer in poverty and lack of freedom and, nations become playgrounds of tyrannies and associates. When capable people are indifference not to establish the institutions necessary to do something about it, crimes goes unpunished and criminals rule.

Wishing freedom and democracy without the institutions to punish the decadent operatives serving the ruling ethnic tyranny is like pouring water in a bucket full of holes; now you see it now you don’t.

It is about time to realize the few existing institution need our support to build capacity and many more transparent advocacy institutions in every sector are needed to punish the regime’s operatives and challenge the international community that sustains it.  Those that have the knowelage and the leadership skills to establish transparent institutions to challenge tyranny and all of us on behalfof the people are the true leaders of Ethiopia we can all be proud.

by Teshome Debalke