By Uju Okoye

Mohammed Ademo, an Ethiopian journalist and editor of the OPride news platform, had a difficult time choosing the 2016 Oromo Person of the Year. In fact, Ademo admits in his end-of-year essay that he originally planned to write about Olympic athlete Feyisa Lilesa’s courage, and how Feyisa’s protest at the Olympic Games made visible the oppression of Oromo people that the world didn’t yet know it ignored.

Is the T-TPLF setting up the “Ethiopian Railway Line” for a fire sale?

By Prof. Al Mariam

The “Ethiopian Railway Line” opened in October 2016 with all the bells and whistles. Today it is derailed and teeters on the edge of financial disaster.

By Prof. Al Mariam

I am calling for a truce in the war of words among Ethiopian scholars, intellectuals and others over history, historicity and historicism. I am also calling for an end to the histrionics surrounding the war of words.

Truth be told, it is the people, not I, who are calling for a truce.

For 22 years, “divide and conquer”, has been the axiom of The Gambia’s President, Jammeh. It is an axiom that has kept many in the Gambia fearful and subdued. But take courage: Those days are coming to an end. Jammeh cannot win this battle and here’s why.

By Prof. Al Mariam

The World Bank of Liars

I have been wrangling with the World Bank of Lies, Damned Lies and Statislies in Ethiopia for the past few years.

I have been trying to keep them honest. I once offered a deal to The World Bank: If they stopped lying by statistics (statislies) about economic “growth” and “development” in Ethiopia, I will stop telling the truth about their malfeasance and wicked deeds in Ethiopia.

By David Sheen

For more than three decades, the story of Operation Moses - the mission to airlift thousands of Jews from Ethiopia and absorb them in Israel - has been a source of pride for many supporters of the Jewish state.

By Porf. Al Mariam

“Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,… [and] see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.”

Author’s Note: I get to celebrate New Year twice every year. The first on September 11, the Ethiopian New Year. The second on January 1.

In this first commentary for 2017, I aim to challenge all Ethiopians to rise up, lock arms and march together as ONE people to meet their destiny.

By Prof. Al Mariam

Author’s Note: In July 2016, I completed my tenth year of uninterrupted Monday Commentaries (and sometimes up to 4 commentaries) a week. Some have amiably characterized my commentaries as “Monday Sermons”.

My first commentary (in the form a speech), “Awakening Giant”, appeared on July 4, 2006, the 230^th anniversary of the American Declaration Independence.