The aim of a recent visit by Ethiopian prime minister to the U.S. was to secure US aid. Mr. Meles Zenawi s visit to Harvard University aroused severe reaction from Diaspora communities and scholars who are critical of the actions of the TPLF government headed by the prime minister. They protested and shamed the inviting institution for failing to understand the appalling human rights record of the government and inviting the equivalent of Idi Amini, Musoloni and Hitler. Mr. Meles Zenawi spoke nonetheless rejecting criticisms later about his policies. Arguing that his policies are working, he asked for more US aid.
Ethiopian officials say the government lost nearly a billion dollars a year in aid due to the war.
Even if the donors are not weary of the overall situation, discriminatory and biased development polices of the government are likely to worsen the economic condition. The rise in the prices of petrol is followed by rises in the prices of printing presses. The largely Amharic language press are demanding the government to subsidise their output. Most non-Amharic, independent publications such as Urji have already ceased publishing as their key editors and publishers were jailed by the government. Internet access is dominated by the government body and facilities are inefficient and often malfunctioning.