Africa is full of promises. It has immense untapped natural resources and a growing human capital base estimated at one billion three hundred million Africans, mostly young. Its potential is constrained by poor governance, corruption, and massive illicit outflow of capital, tribal conflicts, and terrorism. Conflict ridden and war-torn Ethiopia represents Africa’s promises and pitfalls.

In his trademark three-piece suit, a rose on his lapel, a watch strapped to his waistcoat, Sir Charles Njonjo, a man of the ruling Kikuyu ethnicity, cut the image of a colonial Englishman. It was an image he loved and assiduously cultivated. Sir Charles Njonjo wasn’t really Sir Charles. He wasn’t knighted by the Queen of England though he could have been. But what else to call this man who was so English and so pro-European and had little respect for his fellow Kenyans. Although he was Attorney General, he cared little for constitutional niceties.

The year 2021 ended with the loss of some prominent people, one of whom  was Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a significant figure in the struggle against apartheid, who passed on December 26. A note like this will not do justice to his remarkable life. Suffice it to say that he will remain an excellent role model  of humility and moral courage.

The democratic society we see today in Sweden and the several rights we have, has been the result of people's struggle. Individuals have been important in these struggles. People who, through their actions or their struggles, have pushed the boundaries of what is possible and who have won even rights for themselves and others. Truly, being a woman and fighting in a male world was a challenge. Many women pioneers faced opposition both for their views and for being women.

The USA possesses national institutions that can mitigate risks and avert “destabilization of this great nation.” Who will defend weak nations targeted by the USA? Indeed, the USA Government’s nefarious activities are destabilizing Ethiopia. The Biden Administration’s pro-Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF)’s position has tainted and undermined mutually beneficial relations between USA and Ethiopia.

The dark cloud that hovered over last month seems to have slowly faded into the passing of time. However, this cannot be true for individuals and families that were directly affected by the November 16, 2021, twin bomb blasts in Kampala. We send them condolences. Uganda held Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels based in Eastern DRC responsible for these heinous acts of violent extremism.

When the Cold War ended in 1989 with a slew of arms limiting agreements these people in the Blob were effectively unemployed. While they were down and out this should have been the time for both superpowers to get rid of all their nuclear weapons. What were they needed for? Lying around, albeit unused, they could be picked up and deployed again if relations turned for the worse–which they did. Simply put, this was a self-fulfilling prophecy.

“Is war the answer to a troubled world” is a question which has been asked many times by many people. For most people who have ever been in wars, fought in wars, were victimized as innocent bystanders, or have simply read about the horrors of wars, the answer is a resounding NO. The no answer was best articulated by Edwin Starr, an African American musician in 1969 when he asked, “What is war good for?”.