Ethiopia’s Foreign policy

and Diplomacy since 1991

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• Domestic and global settings
 What happened during early 1990s with regard to
national and global politics?
1. Change of Government in 1991:- The removal of
the military government and the coming of EPRDF
to power
2. Change in domestic politics:- Dismantling of most
Durgue’s institutions such as
– Workers party of Ethiopia (WPE)
– National Shengo
– Patterns of local government
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3.Change in Ideology, particularly because
of change in global politics
• The new regime did not only dismantle the
existing institutions, but also creating new
institutions, new forms of governance and
new power elite.
• This would have a significant impact in the
foreign policy of the country.

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4. The politics of centralism and unitary state
were replaced by the politics of
decentralization and federalism after the
downfall of Dergue.
• One party system (WPE) was replaced by
multiparty system ,mainly along ethno-linguistic
line.
5. In economic field, market economy, liberalization
or privatization in all sectors except land replaced
the previous regime’s command economic policy.

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6. Change of regime also brought change in
the social alignment of forces in the
country.
• In other words, class was the basic
explanatory factor for social
organization for significant number of
organizations during the Dergue era.
• Now due to change of regime, ethnicity
became the dominant factor for analysis
of society thereby influencing the
politics of the country. 5
7. The recognition of the right of Eritrea’s self
determination is also another change after
the fall of Dergue.
8. In global respect, post cold-war politics also
affected the country’s foreign policy after
the downfall of the Dergue.
• Competitive patron-client relationship
ended after the end of the cold war.
• This is because for the west no reason to
compete as long as there was no east.
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• After the end of the cold war, the West
promoted a new doctrine known as
“Doctrine of new world order.”
• The implication of this new doctrine is that
after the end of the cold war democracy,
free market and human rights were to be
promoted in third world countries.
• This doctrine was praised by different
international institutions such as the WB,
IMF, the UN, etc..
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• Therefore, democratization, conflict
resolution, humanitarianism, R2P and
terrorism (global war on terrorism)
become justifications for intervention in
the third world countries.
 As third world country, Ethiopia did not
escape from these influence.
Thus, post 1991 Ethiopia FP is examined
against afro-discussed domestic and
international settings 8
• The Major foreign policy issues/
concerns of Transitional Government of
Ethiopia (TFG/ EPRDF)- during the
early period:
1. Peace and stability at domestic and sub-
regional level.
2. The policy of good neighborhood:
cultivation of good friend relationship
with the neighboring countries.
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• The two points (1&2) are more
or less emphasizing on security
matters.
• This was because the demobilized
soldiers of the dergue up on the
coming of EPRDF went to the
neighboring countries with their
weapons, jets, helicopters, particularly
to Djibouti and Kenya. 10
• The TFG frustrated that the
neighboring countries would
use the forces for destabilizing
the country or the flew army
itself may organize themselves
in those countries and
destabilizing the new regime by
becoming insurgent forces. 11
• So repatriation (calling back) of the
former regime soldiers and returning
weapons of the previous regime was an
important concern of TFG particularly
from Djibouti and Kenya.
• The case with Sudan was peaceful
because Sudan was assisting
TPLF/EPLF previously to fight the
Dergue.
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3.The politics of democratization
process, which embraced ethnic
politics
4. The issue of recognition of the
right of Eritrea to self
determination.

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• To realize the above points, the new
regime performed regime
diplomatic activity.
a. Invitation of States leaders to visit Addis
Ababa and reciprocating (Sudan, Djibouti,
and Kenya).
b. Signing of agreement and cooperation
(Ethio-Sudan, Ethio-Djibouti, Ethio-
Kenya).
c. Abolishing of visa requirement for
nationals of neighboring countries with
the exception of Somalia because of
domestic situation. 14
d. Stopping support of insurgent groups of
neighbors.
• Non interference in the domestic affairs
of the neighboring countries.
e. Peaceful resolution of conflict in the
sub region, particularly problem in
Sudan and Somalia.
f. Ethiopia (EPRDF) began to participate
actively in different International (Rwanda)
and regional /sub regional (IGAD)
activities.
• Even Ethiopia played the role of mediation
between Eritrea and Yemen over Hanish
Island. 15
• With regard to global issues, Ethiopia had to
fit with post-cold war realities.
• What are post cold war justifications to be
involved in the affairs of other states?
– Advocate democratization process
– Peaceful Conflict resolution
– Anti- terrorism
• These are also conditions for foreign aid
(USA)
• These conditions had to shape the foreign
policy of Ethiopia, particularly it shaped the
Ethio-US relations. 16
• Ethiopia established relations with different
states, such as China, Japan, Russia, Britain
etc. But, more emphasis has been given with the
United States-multiply friends.
• In the post cold war period (New world
order), the first direct intervention of USA
was intervention in Somalia in the form of
peacekeeping operation (operation restore
hope).
• For this operation, USA used Ethiopia air
base for facilities. 17
a. USA became a cliental ally of
Ethiopia in military aspect.
b. Economic and technical
cooperation signed between
them in 1993.

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 Ethiopian Foreign policy
Basic Principles of Ethiopian
Foreign policy-three principles
1. Development and building of a democratic
system
• Benefiting from a rapid development
A. Living a life free from poverty, ignorance
and backwardness
B. Raising the standard of living
C. Guarantee of national survival
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Democracy
• Respect peoples’ and individual rights
• Affirm good governance
• Assure stable working and living
conditions
• Mobilizing the people in nation
building
• Nation and nationalities and peoples
can live in an atmosphere of tolerance
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2. National Pride and Prestige
– Ethiopia is the only nation in Africa
to have remained independent
– We Need to be proud of our
historical heritages- linked with
hard work, sweat and blood of our
past generation
– The current generation should
respect, protect and reserve them
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 • But, still the current generation is
suffering - poverty,
famine,
backwardness,
debt crises,
stretch for foreign aid
• So while we are proud of our
heritage, we are also ashamed of the
current situation of our country.
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3. Globalization
• The efforts in our country to bring about
rapid development, democracy and good
governance can not be seen outside the
regional and global context
• In the process of globalization, the world
economy has became interconnected and an
international division of labor has been
introduced
Some are producers
Some others are aid recipients
• Hence, no country is out side of this
global economy 23
• Fully exploiting the opportunities of
globalization and lessening the
constraints it creates
• In general, it needs active
participation in the process of
globalization

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Objectives Foreign affairs and National
security Policy
• The goal of FDRE foreign and security policy is
to ensure international conditions that are
conducive to achieving Ethiopia’s development
and democratic objectives.
• The basis goal of foreign and national security
policy is realizing development and democracy.
• To bring about development and realize it in the
framework of globalization, there is the need for
extensive market opportunities, investment and
technical support.
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Objectives Foreign affairs and National
security Policy
• For some time yet, we will also need grants and
loans to finance our development endeavors'.
• Also it requires considerable technical and financial
support to build and strengthen institutions of
democratic governance, so crucial for the growth of
democracy.
• The main objective will be to create an enabling
environment for development and democracy and,
in this context, to identify markets, attract
investment, solicit grants, loans and technical
support and make maximum utilization of all
possibilities.
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 Objectives Foreign affairs and National
security Policy
• Employee economic diplomacy.
• The diplomatic work must aim at eliminating or at least
reducing external security threats.
• The policy should strive to widen the number of foreign
friends that can help to create a regional and global
atmosphere conducive for peace and security.
• The diplomatic activity also aims at forecasting potential
threats and addressing them through dialogue and
negotiation.
• The policy should also secure allies that can help us
withstand intractable challenges and threats.
• As well as creating a favourable situation for our
development, our foreign policy aims at both individually
and collectively lessening the negative effects that
globalization could have on development. 27
Foreign affairs and National security
strategies
A. Devoting the prime focus to
activities at home (dealing with
our home work)
– dealing with our democracy and
development
– we ourselves need to decide what to
do, how to do, and when to promote
democratization and development
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 –this is because foreign prescriptions
can not lead us to successful outcomes
–we need to focus on the efforts at the
domestic level
• being pre-occupied with external
activities, at the expense of what needs
to be done at home risks turning in to
futile exercise
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B. Strategy centered in the economy
-Building strong economy- we can
effectively defend ourselves from external
threats - so rapid development is critical.
-We should not enter in to friendship and
hostilities based on mater irrelevant to our
development
-In international relations, there is permanent
national interest, no permanent friends and
enemies
-We need to focus on business and
investment 30
C. Full utilization of benefits based
on proper analysis
• Focus on essentials for development and
democratization
• Our priority should be market
opportunities, investment, and technical
and financial support
• To maintain our security, we need political,
diplomatic, military and technical support
• We need to identify the kind of cooperation
we require. 31
D. Minimizing threats on the
base of proper analysis
• Preventing and mitigating of hazards
• Identify source of threats
• Identify forces that are affected by the
development and growth of Ethiopia.
• Why they became threat for a wrong reason?
• Here the important things are solving
problems through cooperation, clarification
and patience (balancing of interests).
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E. Reducing vulnerability to
threats
• External threats are extensions of the
national and domestic challenges that we
face
• External threats are either coupled with
domestic challenge or they exploit our
vulnerabilities caused by internal
difficulties.
• This creates hindrances in the prompt
management of threats, which leaves us
more vulnerability to conflict and war. 33
• Example, Siad Barre regime in Somalia
lunched an attack on Ethiopia on the
presumption that Ethiopia was unable to offer
a united resistance and that it would break up
under military pressure.
• Another Example, The regime in Eritrea
similarly launched an aggression against
Ethiopia thinking along the same lines.
• But both regimes were soundly defeated
because of their misguided and misconceived
perceptions.
• So, poverty, backwardness, and absence of
good governance can speed up our
vulnerability. 34
F. Building a reliable defense
capability.
• The creation of a capable national defense
force is central to the protection of our
security
• Strength in military power is a necessary
pre-condition for deterrence and effective
diplomatic action.

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 G. Building Strong Implementation
Capacity
• Foreign national consensus
Foreign relations and national security goals
are all about development, democracy and
survival.
The task cannot be left to a few professionals or
politicians. People as a whole can, in a manner,
participate.
Our foreign and security policies and strategies,
including our relations with various countries
should be made transparent to the public so that
various sections of the community discuss these
policies, improve on them and reach a common
position.
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 G. Building Strong Implementation
Capacity
• Strengthening professional diplomatic capabilities
Qualified personnel need to be capable of carrying out
studies and assessments in the areas of foreign and national
security policies, threat analysis, and implementation
strategies for these policies.
Government ministries and institutions that
are directly or indirectly concerned with foreign and
national security affairs should coordinate their work.
specifically, Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defense, and
Security should coordinate their work with ministries and
institutions in the economic and the social sector in view
of the fact that the economy is central for diplomatic work.
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 G. Building Strong Implementation
Capacity
• Coordinating and involving those with a role in
implementation-network of broad base implementers
Coordinating and involving different sectors and
stakeholders;
Enhancing roles of higher education institutions and
scholars
Enhancing the roles of Ethiopian diasporas in research
and investing at home
 enhancing private sectors roles in economic diplomacy
Coordinating Ethiopia civil societies (religious
organizations, professional associations, NGOs etc
networks) 38
 Summary
Generally, the EPRDF brought many
changes in Ethiopia foreign relations;
The 1995 FDRE Constitution contains many
principles of democratic governance such as
multiparty elections, promising popular sovereignty
 Popular sovereignty implies the head of government is
accountable for his public policy decisions (including
foreign policy) to the popularly elected Parliament
 Also, the regime introduced foreign policy document
 Ethiopia’s role in international (peace keeping, UN
institutions, etc) and African diplomacy (Peace keeping,
NEPAD, AU, Climate summit etc) continued
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 Summary…
• Also, inline to the new politics the patterns of
Ethiopians diplomatic missions change in some aspects
from the style of derg regime.
• The FDRE government closed Ethiopian embassies and
consuls which deemed to it inconvenience with
Ethiopian realities.
• The Ethiopian Embassy in Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia,
Greece, North Korea, Mexico, and Zaire Republic was
closed.
• Instead the FDRE government opens Embassies and
consuls in other countries.
• Most of the New Embassies and consuls opened by
FDRE government are in middle East- Asia and Africa.
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 Summary…
• Also, the EPRDF regime changed Ethiopians policy
orientation toward the horn of Africa and signifies
the horn state as nearby brothers,
• But, in actual sense the regime failed to achieve
lasting peace in the horn of Africa as per policy
promise.
• Rather, Ethiopia engaged in war with Eritrea which
was the largest war of the time in the horn of
Africa.
• In the case of diplomatic missions, the FDRE
government is better than its predecessors by
expanding and diversifying Ethiopian diplomatic
missions abroad.
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 Summary…
• Also, the EPRDF regime foreign policy
and implementations resulted in many
controversial issues and decisions;
Eritrea self-determination
Issues of ports
Ethio-Eritrea war and aftermath
Algiers agreement

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 Summary…
• Also, the EPRDF regime foreign policy resulted in many
limitations;
Promise to translate foreign relations to domestic
democracy and good governance is left on paper
Networked implementations (involving higher
educations, diasporas and civil society) is not beyond
lip services
Promise for institutionalizations and
professionalization of foreign relations and inter-
agencies integration is also left on paper
Above all the foreign affairs and security policy and
strategies exposed national secret to the world
Issues and positions secretly held at top leaders level
exposed in policy document
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The end
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