by Bj Binning

Created on: February 26, 2008

Should the US consider Ethiopia an ally despite its poor human rights record?

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world"

If we as a people do not change, we cannot grow and if we do not groware we really living? Ethiopia had their first, comparatively, free and fair election on May 15, 2005 with 90 percent of the country's population voting. During this election the US urged the Ethiopian government to respect the rule of law, international principles of human rights, and due process with regard to those people that were arrested or detained during this process. The United States government also looked to the opposition parties to abide by the rule of law, to respect their commitment to end the violence, and to ask their followers to remain calm. They were also commended by other countries for this landmark accomplishment.

Ethiopia is located in the eastern part of Africa and borders the Red Sea. Their main export commodities include, cocoa beans and products, cut flowers, fruit, gold, gum incense, oil products, petroleum products, tea and coffee. While their major import commodities include chemical products, consumer goods, food ingredients, edible oils and petroleum products. (Source United Nations website) In past years, Ethiopia's economy has suffered through droughts, and poor cultivation practices. They have suffered so much so that in December of 2005 the IMF voted to forgive Ethiopia's debt to them. In spite of all these set backs, the country is slowly recovering but needs substantial help.
Many call on the US for help and sometimes when the help is provided they reject it or condemn the US government. What they need to realize is that the help will come but it will take a lot of hard work on their part and they will have to commit to changing the country. The US can help Ethiopia all they can, but there will be no change in Ethiopia if the people of Ethiopia do not want to change it themselves.
Some drastic changes need to be made within the country. With a population of 77.1 million people, 43% of these people are children below the age of 15 years and 3% over the age of 65 years. (SEE TABLES BELOW)
DESCRIPTION ETHIOPIA
Population mid-2007 77.1 million
Population 2025 (projected) 108.7 million
Lifetime births per woman 5.4
Percent of population below age 15 43%
Percent of population ages 65+ 3%
Life expectancy at birth 49 years
Infant deaths per 1,000 births 77
Percent of adults with HIV/AIDS (2005) 1.4%
Percent of children under 5 underweight

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