The Islamic State is trying to overturn the territorial boundaries established by the British and the French by the Sykes-Picot Treaty of 1916. The treaty was a secret one, drawn up in anticipation of the breakup of the Ottoman Empire during World War I. The boundaries were formally revised the Treaty of San Remo in 1920, but the main thrust of the 1916 treaty was observed. Needless to say, the boundary lines completely disregarded the actual demographic realities of the people who lived in the areas.
Amnesty International has released a report accusing the Ethiopian government of violating the human rights of its largest ethnic group, the Oromo. Ethiopia has about 80 ethnic groups and the Oromo are one of the largest of these. The government has accused the Oromo of subversive activities and denies that it is persecuting the Oromo. Ethiopia has been plagued by political violence in recent years, but the country as a whole has shown remarkable economic growth and stability.
The UN General Assembly has passed, for the 23rd time, a resolution urging the US to lift its decades-long embargo on Cuba. The resolution passed with 188 votes in the 193-member assembly. The US imposed the embargo during the Eisenhower Administration in 1961 to persuade Cuba to change its socialist government, and has accomplished absolutely nothing. The embargo wins the prize for the single most futile diplomatic effort in human history.
World Politics News 
Hi Vinnie,
I just saw the post about the Oromo suppression in Ethiopia and I would like to say just a few words about the situation in the country as an insider. Membership and collaboration with the ruling party for whatever course of action is mandatory–it is not an option. Be it to get a job, to involve in a public organization, to organize programs or even do research… it is imperative that one become a member of EPRDF whether Oromo, Tigre, Guraghe, Amhara, Sidama…. (I can go on mentioning all the 80 nations and nationalities) As much as true the article is, it should be stressed that such human rights violation did not occur because they are Oromo per se. Looking at this as if it is a way of suppressing the Oromo people further entrenches the politicization of ethnicity within the country that is already creating chaos. The structure of the government itself, ethnic federalism, is the cause of many of these ethnic clashes. We are encouraged to identify and vote as an Oromo, Amhara, Tigre, Harrari…. and not as an Ethiopian. There are 9 ethnic regions in the country which “belong” to specific ethnic groups. Tying one ethnic group to a land make any further expansion of infrastructure from the central government and settlements of other ethnic groups seem as a subversion of rights. That is the main cause of the opposition by the Oromo on May 2014. The government passed a budget plan to the expansion of Addis (the capital) further. The region next to Addis being Oromia, many students and parts of the ethnic group claimed that it was the act of taking the land of their ancestors. As a Sidama, Wolayta, Amhara, Tigre, when one goes to Oromia to settle if they are told to get out because the land doesn’t belong to them (same thing happens when an “outsider” goes to other regions)… there is the manifestation of the complete erosion of national identity. Identification of this human rights abuse as an attack specific to the Oromo, further fuels this problem of division making it look like as if it is one ethnic group against the other or the country as a whole against the Oromo. That is why I believe it should be stressed that any Ethiopian, not just Oromo, would face the same consequence if they dared to contradict the government in any way.
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Dear Woyneab,
Thank you so much for your informative and detailed note. I love it when I learn more about every situation. There’s always more background to every story. I appreciate your willingness to take the time.
Best,
Vinnie
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