Ethiopia: A representative of the opposition applies for political asylum in the USA
One of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's main opponents, Ethiopian political activist Bekele Gerba, has applied for political asylum in the United States, AFP reported on Monday. He denounced the deteriorating political situation in Ethiopia and feared for his life.
Bekele was released in January 2022 after 18 months in prison and announced Monday that he had resigned as vice president of the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC), the ethnic group's main opposition party.
TheOromo makes up the largest population in Ethiopia, a federal state divided into regional states according to ethnolinguistic criteria.“This (Monday) morning I emailed a letter of resignation to OFC President Dr. Merera Gudina," Bekele told AFP over the phone from the United States.
"I have decided not to return to Ethiopia and have already applied for asylum with the US government."In the United States, where he has lived since June 2022, "I have noticed that the political situation in Ethiopia continues to deteriorate", with "intimidation, massacres and arrests", he explains.“The political context is not conducive to the peaceful struggle sought by the OFC. There was no opportunity to meet people, so I felt like I didn't matter.“I fear for my life. I have been arrested three times in the past (...) This time my life is in danger. I don't think they will just put me in jail. I'm not safe, my family is not safe," he told AFP.
Since 2011, Bekele has spent a total of more than seven years in prison, having been imprisoned twice by the Tigray coalition, which ruled Ethiopia for almost 30 years, and then by the Abiy government that succeeded it.
He was jailed first for almost four years between 2011 and 2015 and then for almost three years between late 2015 and early 2018 while cracking down on opposition protests aimed at bringing Abiya to power. Returned to prison in mid-2020 after violence in Oromia and Addis Ababa region following the killing of singer Hachalu Hundessa, standard-bearer of the Oromo people. He was released under an amnesty in January 2022 along with several Ethiopian opposition activists.
Mr. Bekele denied being released in return for leaving the country: "There was no agreement with the government, that's ridiculous."If there was an agreement, I would no longer criticize the government.”He said he was pessimistic about Ethiopia's future. "The country is collapsing. If nothing is done, the situation will only get worse in the coming months or years. »Another Oromo opposition figure who was dismissed at the same time as Bekele was Jawar Mohamed, a former ally of the Ethiopian government.
Ethiopian Opposition Leader Bekele Gerba Seeks Political Asylum in the United States Amidst Deteriorating Political Climate
Bekele Gerba, a prominent Ethiopian political figure and a vocal critic of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government, has applied for political asylum in the United States. Gerba, who played a significant role as a main opponent of Abiy Ahmed, expressed concerns about the escalating political turmoil in Ethiopia and his own safety.
After spending 18 months in prison, Bekele Gerba was released in January 2022. However, he has recently resigned from his position as vice-president of the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC), the primary opposition party representing the Oromo ethnic group. The Oromo people are the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia, residing in the country's various regional states.
In a conversation with AFP on Monday, Gerba revealed his decision to not return to Ethiopia due to the deteriorating political situation marked by intimidation, violence, mass arrests, and political unrest. He cited his concern for his life's safety as a driving factor behind seeking asylum in the United States.
From his new base in the United States in June 2022, Gerba articulated that he perceives the Ethiopian political environment to be increasingly hostile, rendering peaceful opposition and activism difficult. He highlighted the ongoing tensions and risks associated with his involvement in the opposition movement, emphasizing that he fears not only for his own life but also for the safety of his family.
Bekele Gerba's history includes multiple instances of imprisonment. He was incarcerated for a total of more than seven years since 2011, being arrested twice during the rule of the Tigrayan-dominated coalition that governed Ethiopia for nearly three decades, and subsequently by the government led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
His previous imprisonments include being detained for almost four years from 2011 to 2015, followed by imprisonment of nearly three years from late 2015 to early 2018, during the crackdown on opposition protests that ultimately led to Abiy Ahmed's rise to power. Gerba was once again imprisoned in mid-2020 due to the unrest stemming from the murder of Oromo singer Hachalu Hundessa. His release in January 2022 came as part of an amnesty program, which also saw the release of other Ethiopian opposition figures.
Bekele Gerba has refuted claims that his release was contingent upon leaving the country, dismissing any notion of a deal with the Ethiopian government. He maintained that his criticism of the government would have been restrained had such an arrangement existed.
Expressing deep concerns about the future of Ethiopia, Gerba expressed his pessimism, indicating that the country appears to be facing fragmentation and turmoil. He believes that unless appropriate measures are taken, the situation is likely to worsen in the coming months or years.
Another notable opposition figure from the Oromo community, Jawar Mohamed, was also released around the same time as Bekele Gerba. Jawar Mohamed, once an ally of the Ethiopian government, has been a vocal critic of the administration in recent years.
In summary, Bekele Gerba's decision to seek political asylum in the United States underscores his apprehensions about the deteriorating political situation in Ethiopia and his concerns for personal safety. His history of activism, imprisonments, and his role as an opposition leader in a significant ethnic group add complexity to Ethiopia's ongoing political landscape.