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The UN is only as strong as the countries supporting it.Isolationism and nationalism weaken institutions like the UN. And we've seen a fair bit of that in recen

The UN is only as strong as the countries supporting it.Isolationism and nationalism weaken institutions like the UN. And we've seen a fair bit of that in recent years. This article is about Ethiopia, not China. The issue on the ground there is complex and includes decades of war, and behind the scenes pressuring of a lot of countries. Including the US. And China which stepped into the power vacuum left by former colonial powers and the US withdrawing from the continent in recent decades. Like it or not, the Chinese are running the show across much of Africa now. They have controlling financial interests across the region. Part of that has been supporting the current Ethiopian government (i.e. the very people accused in the article of preparing for genocide) as part of a negotiated end to previous wars in the area. That regime has been responding to an uprising fueled in large part by their policies to marginalize and oppress the people of Tigray. That uprising has been unexpectedly swift and violent. Part of the reason that the Ethiopian government is mobilizing and arming citizens is that they are losing ground rapidly and starting to panic. Addis Ababa is a big city and it getting sucked into the conflict is now a possibility. That would not be a good thing; no matter who you support. The people of Tigray just want their independence and freedom from oppression, and now indeed genocide. Hard not to sympathize with that. The way out here is diplomacy; find a solution. That probably means replacing the current regime in Ethiopia. The alternative is another prolonged conflict. With conflicts like this, following the money is a useful exercise. Both sides must have some financial support. Follow the money and you might end up with a short list of usual suspects. Proxy wars have replaced conventional wars. If genocide happens is it's because of conflicting interests between those.

baybal2 5y ago
> With conflicts like this, following the money is a useful exercise. Both sides must have some financial support. Follow the money and you might end up with a short list of usual suspects. Proxy wars have replaced conventional wars. If genocide happens is it's because of conflicting interests between those. You don't need to follow the money, it's been very obvious for last decade already. The old East Bloc was very keen on working with both old Marxist government of Ethiopia, as well as with people who toppled it, just for as long as they strayed away from the West. Since Abiy was aiming to engage with the West, they put sticks in his wheels, and apparently very successfully so.

baybal2 5y ago

> With conflicts like this, following the money is a useful exercise. Both sides must have some financial support. Follow the money and you might end up with a short list of usual suspects. Proxy wars have replaced conventional wars. If genocide happens is it's because of conflicting interests between those. You don't need to follow the money, it's been very obvious for last decade already. The old East Bloc was very keen on working with both old Marxist government of Ethiopia, as well as with people who toppled it, just for as long as they strayed away from the West. Since Abiy was aiming to engage with the West, they put sticks in his wheels, and apparently very successfully so.