Chiswickite - formerly The Croydonian

Haile Selassie and Ethiopia

Le Figaro has a mini interview with the President of Ethiopia, but the focus is more on Haile Selassie, 'King of Kings, Elect of God and Conquering Lion of Judah'. He was carted away from his palace in a Volkswagen Beetle, but ended up buried under Mengistu's office so that the Red Negus could keep an eye on him.

Elsewhere the item notes that Ethiopia was a Christian country at least 50 years earlier than France, but continues "However, on the hills of Addis Ababa, mosques are multiplying. Rumour attributes their funding to Mohammed Al-Hamoudi, an Ethiopian-Saudi billionaire...But the old faith is still there. Tthe high plateaus of Ethiopia, are as Christian as Europe was before the 19th century. But the centuries count little for the old kingdom”.

I am hardly the world’s most enthusiastic monarchist, but I can’t help but think that if the line of Selassie had continued, Ethiopia would be a rather happier place today. Meanwhile the criminally wicked Mengistu is a guest of another nasty piece of work, Robert Mugabe. Mengistu is being tried in absentia in Ethiopia and the trial is now in its 13th year...

Labels: Ethiopia

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 at 10:54 am. You can skip to the end and leave a response.