Tibebu Taye
The recent glitzy drone show – ostensibly meant to showcase Ethiopia’s rising technological prowess, as supporters of the regime claim, has generated a lot of debate. Such exhibitions may aspire to portray a nation with innovative capabilities, but their timing and implications beg to be challenged at a time when most Ethiopian face very urgent economic difficulties, particularly when juxtaposed with the ongoing health workers’ strike. The precise cost of the show is yet not fully understood, and possibly linked to external support, but its symbolic importance cannot be underestimated. I have to say I had the bee’s eye view of His PM Dr. Abiy Ahmed and his deputy hugging after watching the drones dancing in the air in full chorus, now that was something! It was as if they built the drones.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has consistently cultivated a techno-futurist image. In one notable interview, when questioned about a hypothetical AI advisor, he elaborated on the future ubiquity and multifunctional roles of robotics. More pertinently, he stated, “In our context, the primary and urgent vision is creating a unifying national vision and narratives, and to that end, we have the desire to have uniform needs and dreams and to work in unity and Medemer [synergy] for their realisation.” This statement highlights a core aspiration: to use technology not for just development but national integration. But what was more distrussing about this vision was when the PM spoke of using an ideal AI expert and digital technologies to “pre-emptively chase and crush down enemies and their agendas”, though Ethiopia is now primed to use technology in quashing dissent.
Concurrently, Getachew Reda has also made significant pronouncements. In a FANA interview, he appeared to adopt a populist stance while making remarks that have been interpreted by some as revealing his own past crimes. More directly, he issued a warning to militant groups opposing the federal government, emphasizing the government’s advanced technological capabilities, including “latest drones and mechanised weapons.” He went on to say, ”to the Tigrayan youth: – Going after a general who leads war by manpower not technology (force multiplier) I do not think is healthy”. The remarks are apparently intended to flex muscle and perhaps discourage resistance, while Reda also seeks to win the hearts and minds of the Ethiopian populace as well as the establishment, after his new appointment in the federal system.
These events and statements make an ironic contrast. On the one hand, official discourse celebrates technological progress and national unity. On the other, opponents and sections of the public point to the perceived governmental extravagance and neglect of urgent socio-economic and political challenges. It has also stoked accusations that the ruling class lives in luxury while a huge chunk of the population is steeped in poverty and deprived of basic needs.
This difference leads to what one could call a “dystopian fabulation” of the future where the Prime Minister’s anticipated hyper-technological future contrasts strikingly with the current stagnation of this nation’s political, economic and social spheres. The demand of the striking health workers for better wages and living conditions is a case in point of this disparity. For them and others in similar situations, the drone show highlights the contrast between the promise of cutting-edge digital technologies and the stark realities of hunger and internal conflict. This also contrasts with the ideal future ambition of using technology to create and sustain a unified national vision and narrative. However, as we can all sense, the drone show rather reveals the fractured vision and narratives of progress, exposing deep inequalities and distrust.
Editor’s Note : Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com
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