There are approximately 2 million Ethiopians abroad with at least 60,000 more leaving every year. Society continues to discuss this exodus and what it may portend.

The Wandering Habesha

As recently as last week, Capital carried yet another news story concerning the outflow of skilled people from the 50 Least Developed Countries (LDC), of which Ethiopia is a ‘distinguished’ member. Quoting the LDC 2007 Report released by UNCTAD, Capital pointed out that in 2000 alone (latest year assessed due to the obvious difficulty of obtaining such data), Ethiopia lost 36,000 educated professionals. There are no indications that this hemmorraging has abated. In fact it is more likely that the exodus may have increased exponentially.
What is this craze, this obsession with leaving the native land – even when one may be faring relatively better than most of their fellow citizens.
The movement of people across what are after all, artificial borders is a natural human predilection. In the case of Africa, we were the very first ‘tourists’, as 3.5 million years ago, proto-Ethiopians began to disperse throughout the globe and plant the seeds of human civilization. There is absolutely nothing nefarious about natural migration. The problem arises when the movement is ‘un-natural’ so to speak. To illustrate this particular point, I personally don’t mind if someone who also happens to be a doctor or an engineer for instance, leaves Ethiopia to settle abroad for an extended period or even for good. But I do get seriously upset when doctors or engineers flee this country as professional blocs’. Woe to Ethiopia if we don’t enact some sort of legal mechanism.
Lets examine other less advantaged segments and sub-segments of our society such as the poor, unemployed and desperate young women who flock to the Middle East (at the rate of several flights a day). How can we even think of convincing an underprivileged Ethiopian girl not to leave her country for menial jobs in Saudi Arabia? What have we offered these girls except for 24 hr maid, housekeeper, babysitter and yes, sex object, all for a miserly 60 Birr a month?
As for me, I have at least a dozen sblings or relatives in four countries. Most of them left during the Derg years and many had to trek across the Sudan border, spending years in refugee camps. Almost all of them were forced to leave Ethiopia one way or another. Remember, ‘Wey be –Bole Weyem be Bale?’ either through the airport, meaning legally or through the old province of Bale –Goba and on to Kenya– evading Derg patrols at the risk of death.

What is your opinion about people whose
dream or plan is simply going abroad?

People did not leave their homeland of free will during the terrible years of the Derg regime. They were not as lucky as the youth of today, who for the most part, are abandoning their country for purely economic reasons.
I support going abroad if its to save your life or at least avoid being press-ganged (Afessa), but if like these days, its only to seek better pastures, I’m against leaving this beautiful country of ours.
Adamu, architect

I’m upset that conditions in our country are not favorable for most of us. This is the cause of the brain drain we are witnessing. I say, let’s struggle to make Ethiopia not only livable but also a homeland that should be a destination and not a place to flee from.
Tekeste, carpenter

Let’s forget that this country has over 80,000,000 people. I think we can afford it even if more people choose to leave. There’s not enough of everything here for us anyway. Let those who can, get out while they still can
Thomas, unemployed
Believe it or not, most of our social political and economic problems can be solved if we could find a solution to the issue of land. This vital ingredient is unattainable to the vast majority of Ethiopians. The rich few of course, can afford to buy land like they always have. It is the poor – especially, the youth in poverty that when denied the remotest of chances to build a house or run a farm, is left with no option but to leave a country that apparently doesn’t want him/her.
Temeset, frazzled tenant

People may be obsessed with going out of this country and it is no wonder that this is so. I’ll give you 100 Birr right now for each person that will tell you they don’t want to leave Ethiopia if given half a chance. I’m betting you won’t find even one.
Maru, trader