An Open Letter to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Honorable, Haile Mariam Desalegn
Subject: The recent action of building a fence or a similar Berlin wall around the railway line connecting from Dawanleh to Awash, Ethiopia.
Dear Mr. Prime Minister:
We, the Somali-issa diaspora, support the Ethiopian government interest and passion of creating and economic opportunity and jobs for their people in order to elevate the living Standard of the average Ethiopian citizen.
However, regarding a recent development of region 5, SITI and Dire-Dawa city; the approval of fencing the Djibouti-Addis-Ababa railway line, though, has created a total outcry and concern of the plight and the survival of the nomadic Somali-Issa throughout the kilil 5 and the rest World.
As a result of that, it has sadly prompted an ill-advised arrest and incarceration of the most-respected Elders – and a subjugation of a daily intimidation by the Federal police and military – whoever opposes the creation of the similar Israel or Berlin wall around the railway line; which would eventually put an end, permanently, the free movement of the Issa nomadic communities in their own land.
We know, Mr. Desalegn, your government means well but fencing or building a wall around the railway line isn’t a wise move. Because it would most certainly separate the Somali-Issa into two and cut them off from the rest of their own community and other Ethiopians; and this action would definitely destroy their way of life.
Mr. Prime Minister, as you already know, the Djibouti-Addis railway line was first laid late 1880’s and it was first started operating in early 1912 between, then, French Somali territory (now the Republic of Djibouti) and Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia.
Mr. Prime Minister, the Djibouti-Ethiopian railway line has been safe and sound, since; thanks for the Somali-Issa who were protecting it as their own – in spite of minor incidents over the years – because it was their only means of transportation connecting them to the different parts of the country.
Mr. Desalegn, the world would not stand idle and watch this humble and proud people being utterly and systematically discrete for a mere profit or greed – this is a community who have already been constantly battling the most arduous climate that man has ever known – for centuries.
Sir, We, the Ethiopian, Somali and Djiboutian- Canadians are urging you and your government to take an appropriate action against creating a wall around the railway line. It is the most inhuman way possible of treating an Ethiopian citizens or an African indigenous in this day-and-age.
With all due respect, Sir, your government cannot justify their action for the sake of the security of the Djibouti-Ethiopian railway line. Therefore, in the name of the African and Ethiopian people, your government must respect the way of life of Ethiopian nationalities.
Yours truly,