2006: A forgettable year

Now that we are figuratively changing reels in the docu-drama that is Ethiopia, we cross our fingers hoping that the seventh spool of the 21st century will be more pleasant than the year 2006.

Scrolling through the past year, the economic arena was one that most of us would like to if not forget, toss into the deepest recesses of the national closet.

2006 was the most expensive year ever as the cost of living skyrocketed by more than 50% over 2005. We dare say that it was also the first year in which even well-off citizens felt the inflationary pinch. For instance eating out occasionally used to be one of the few affordable 'luxuries' for the salaried man and woman. Today, the bloated prices on restaurant menus have made dining out seem like a frivolous waste of good money. Ethiopia's culture of conspicuous consumption of high quality meat at cheap prices has become a fond memory.

The most serious malady affecting the economy this past year was the cement shortage - actually a severe crisis. Ill advised planning and over generous building permit issuance in earlier years ensured the creation of a so called 'building boom' which has left the nation desperately short of cement and other primary building materials. It must be mentioned however that 2006 witnessed an important development for Ethiopian exports, namely, the fresh impeteous given to the acknowledgement of Ethiopian coffee products. International aid organization Oxfam should be praised for badgering coffee giant Starbucks into agreeing to reward Ethiopian coffee farmers' favorably. The branding of Ethiopian coffee is but a beginning in the necessary process of international recognition for many other Ethiopian products.

Returning to the not so rosy picture, the near impossibility of getting even the smallest plot of land, seems to have erased the average Ethiopian's yearning to build a family home. Are we to expect that this state of affairs will continue to drive us all towards insolvency?

The political arena was marked by the detention and on-going trial of CUD leadership and members, civil society activist and journalists.

It is absolutely clear that 2006 was the most polarized and politically disappointing year since the EPRDF took power. Intolerance over national issues such as free and fair politics, relations between and among communities and even religions, resulted in scattered but serious civil strife throughout the year.

In foreign relations Somalia practically became a domestic issue. As events outstripped the news, the speedy collapse of the United Islamic Courts (UIC) and the fall of Mogadishu to the Temporary Federal Government (TFG) will hopefully mean our soldiers can return home soon and not be bogged down in an Iraq type quagmire.

For Somalia we can only wish that maybe this time the warring clans will listen to the pain of their people and settle down to rebuild their nation. However the TFG should rewrite the traditional animosity between the peoples of Ethiopia and Somalia by once and for all discarding the notion of a greater Somalia.

Socially, the year 2006 saw the official launch of preparations for the celebration of the Ethiopian new millennium. The government alone has allocated almost 300 mln birr for the extravaganza. It must be noted that enthusiasm levels could be higher as the general public's imagination has not been ignited yet. It could be that with the dire economic situation, the millennial festivities hold more appeal to the rich who are blessed with the luxury of celebrating the passage of time. If the huge expenditure earmarked for and up to September 11, 2007 by the state, organizations and individuals is not to be in vain, we must ensure that the nation is genuinely in healing mode. This will definitely happen if the political tangle is untied, more fuel price increases are frozen, and 2007 turns out to be, if not Ethiopia's finest hour, at least better than 2006 which we bid good riddance. Have a splendid year!