In Ethiopia, big party looms for third millennium

On midnight Wednesday, the country, which uses a modified Julian calendar, will kick off festivities.

from the September 11, 2007 edition

Page 2 of 2

Page 1 | 2

Two weeks ago, the Great Ethiopia Run, a 6.2-mile race organized by distance legend Haile Gebreselassie that has drawn 30,000 runners, was postponed until November.

The government cited a number of logistical reasons for the cancellations, but many here suspect the reasons had more to do with security concerns.

Tight security is in place

Ethiopia is a key US ally in one of the world's most volatile regions, as demonstrated when it invaded neighboring Somalia last December to oust Islamists that had taken over the country. Its troops still occupy Somalia and are now facing an Iraq-style insurgency.

The move has drawn fierce criticism from Eritrea (with whom Ethiopia fought a bitter border war in 1998-2000), and from the Ogaden National Liberation Front, an ethnically Somali separatist group that attacked a Chinese oil installation in eastern Ethiopia months ago killing more than 70 people, including nine Chinese workers.

Any of these groups would love to launch an attack during the millennium for symbolic reasons, but would have trouble doing so, say analysts. Addis Ababa is swarming with armed troops in blue camouflage uniforms checking people's bags as they walk near party venues.

Criticism of lavish spending in poor country

Another damper on the holiday is the fact that it will be the third millennium only for the country's Orthodox Christians, who make up just over half of the population. Many of Ethiopia's nearly 50 percent Muslims – and others who share neither faith – have long felt oppressed by the ruling highland Orthodox Christians.

"For us, it's just another day," says Said Melaku, a Muslim man shopping at a sprawling market just outside the country's biggest mosque in Addis Ababa. "We don't feel anything.

"I feel sorry, because [the millennium celebrations don't] include Muslims," he continues. "It's not fair, but there's no choice. That's their calendar."

Others are criticizing the government for spending lavishly on the festivities in a country that is among the world's poorest.

"I don't feel comfortable, because someone is having a good time and others are suffering," says Araya Abera. Mr. Abera drives a taxi in Calgary, Canada, but timed a visit to his family in Ethiopia for the millennium.

Still, many people are relieved just to have something to celebrate. Several Addis residents this reporter spoke to say that they plan to get married on Wednesday.

1 | Page 2