Goshu Wolde
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
1983–1986
Preceded byFeleke Gedle-Giorgis
Succeeded byBerhanu Bayeh
Personal details
Born1942 (age 81–82)
Gore, Ethiopia
Political partyCOPWE
WPE
Other political
affiliations		Ethiopian Medhin Democratic Party
EducationHarar Military Academy
Addis Ababa University (LL.B.)
Yale Law School (LL.M.)

Colonel Goshu Wolde (born 1942) is a former Ethiopian Foreign Minister[1] and worked as minister of education, of Ethiopia[2][3][4] from 1983 to 1986. Wolde, formerly a foreign minister under Mengistu, resigned the Mengistu government in 1986, by sending his resignation letter from New York City to Ethiopian Head of State Mengistu Haile Mariam, stating dictatorship, cruelty and deterioration of Revolution in his letter, and established himself in United States in opposition to the Mengistu Government[5] In the year 1992, Wolde founded the Ethiopian Medhin Democratic Party, in Washington D.C.[6] He made a famous speech to the US Senate Committee for Foreign Affairs in 1991 and that speech is still shared and discussed by millions of Ethiopians.[7] Wolde was the leader of two foreign based group movements, the shadowy Free Soldiers Movement and the Ethiopian Movement for Democracy, Peace and Unity.[8]

Early life

Goshu Wolde, was born in 1942 in Gore, Illubabor Province to a poor family. He did his primary schooling in Gore, while he completed his secondary schooling from Addis Ababa. Wolde attended Military academy in the years 1960-1963. He was awarded with military award, sword of honor, as he completed his military subjects as a topper. He joined Addis Ababa University received Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) and later attended the Yale University graduated with Mater of Law (LL.M.). [9] Wolde served as the chairman of National Literacy Campaign Coordinating Committee, in the year 1979, which was formed by the Derg to combat the low illiteracy rate of Ethiopia in year 1974.[10]

Minister of Foreign Affairs

In a United Nations meeting in Geneva on African famine in 1985, the then Vice President of America, George H. W. Bush, had negotiated Food for the North Initiative [11] with the then Ethiopian Foreign Minister Goshu Wolde.[12] Wolde reportedly had accused Bush criticism of the Ethiopian Government Famine Relief efforts, as personal political motivations.[13] Wolde has raised his concerns about famine donations raised in Europe and America in form of food, clothing, equipments, money and that the donations were not reaching Ethiopian Government. He had asked West donations to be provided to Ethiopian Government directly instead of routing through private agencies.[14]

Following the rebel take over in May 1991 by the EPRDF, Wolde Goshu warned that a lasting peace would not develop unless a broad transitional government was established in which the Amhara ethnic group was adequately represented.[15]

Exile

On 21-22 March 1992, the Ethiopian Movement for Democracy, Peace and Unity (EMDPU) led by Goshu Wolde was launched as a political organisation in exile, opposed to the EPRDF regime.[15][9]

See also

References

  1. ^ "ETHIOPIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER, CONSIDERED A MODERATE, QUITS". New York Times. 28 October 1986. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  2. ^ Clapham, Christopher. Transformation and Continuity in Revolutionary Ethiopia. Cambridge University Press. p. 71.
  3. ^ "Wave of Defections Reveals Marxist Failure in Ethiopia". Los Angeles Times. 24 December 1986. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  4. ^ Finn, James. Ethiopia: The Politics of Famine. University Press of America. p. 81.
  5. ^ "Profile Series - Ethiopia, Update On Political Conditions - University of Minnesota Human Rights Library" (pdf). Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  6. ^ Shinn, David; P. Ofcansky, Thomas. Historical Dictionary of Ethiopia. Scarecrow Press. p. 194.
  7. ^ "Ethiopian Foreign Minister Goshu Wolde". Orlando Sentinel. October 28, 1986. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
  8. ^ Banks, Arthur S.; Day, Alan J.; Muller, Thomas C. Political Handbook of the World 1998. CSA Publications. p. 308.
  9. ^ a b H. Shinn, David; P.Ofcansky, Thomas P (2013). Historical Dictionary of Ethiopia. Scarecrow Press. pp. 193, 194. ISBN 9780810874572.
  10. ^ H. Shinn, David; P.Ofcansky, Thomas P. Historical Dictionary of Ethiopia. Scarecrow Press. p. 302.
  11. ^ Connell, Dan. Against All Odds: A Chronicle of the Eritrean Revolution. Red Sea Press,U.S. p. 221.
  12. ^ Varnis, Steven. Reluctant Aid Or Aiding the Reluctant?: U.S. Food Aid Policy and Ethiopian Famine Relief. Transaction Publishers. p. 131.
  13. ^ "BUSH, IN GENEVA, BIDS WORLD UNITE ON FAMINE". New York Times. 11 March 1985. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  14. ^ "RELATIONS SOUR BETWEEN ETHIOPIA AND WESTERN FOOD DONORS". New York Times. 18 Feb 1985. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  15. ^ a b Banks, Arthur S.; Day, Alan J.; Muller, Thomas C. (2016). Political Handbook of the World 1998. Springer. p. 308. ISBN 9781349149513.
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