🇨🇦 IRCC weekly update: Change in processing times for PR card renewals, visitor visas & extensions, super visas, SAWP, & work permits from inside Canada.
🇨🇦 Check out the latest Canada immigration processing times for all the categories as of August 26 👇
https://t.co/bNI2wORYug
Alliance of Convenience!
In the 19th century Khedive Ismail of Egypt 🇪🇬 wanted to expand Egypt’s territory to control the source of the Nile. But the clever Emperor Yohannes IV wasn’t thrilled on having Ethiopia become an Egyptian holiday resort. On a Battle of Gundet in 1875, Ethiopians soundly defeated Egyptians by teaching them the meaning of home field advantage. The next year, in 1876 Egyptian showed up for the rematch on the Battle of Gura where they faced another round of whopping. The war ended teaching Egypt a harsh lesson in geography and military strategy & killing Ismail’s empire-building fantasy in Ethiopia’s direction. Some say Egypt went in with colonial swagger and came out with a story of "Why We Don't Talk About That War."
In 1977, Siad Barre of Somalia 🇸🇴 decided to annex the Ogaden Region to Somalia as part of his Greater Somalia dream. Some argue Barre thought of a family reunion, but instead of sending invites, he sent troops into Ogaden. Initially, Somalia made significant gains, with a lot of military posturing, and invasion almost like showing up unannounced and nearly taking over and then, not much for Somalia except a retreat. The war ended with Ethiopia keeping Ogaden, and Somalia with economic strain, military demoralization, and finally disintegration. This conflict didn't just end with territorial lines unchanged; it set the stage for further instability in Somalia, contributing to the eventual downfall of Barre's regime in 1991 and declaration of Somaliland’s independence.
Eritrea 🇪🇷, who was colonized by Italy federated to Ethiopia after World War II. Emperor Haile Selassie’s decision to end the federation in 1962 annoyed many Eritrean elites, who later made it to the bush for a War of Independence. By 1991, Eritrea gained de facto independence with the fall of the Derg regime and in 1993, it was officially recognized after a referendum. Peace and friendship ensued, or so it seemed. But the peace was short-lived. A border dispute over a seemingly insignificant piece of land called Badme escalated in 1998. Ethiopian troops raided Eritrea, and a 20 years stalemate followed. In 2018 Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed tried a peace deal with Eritrea, that led to reopening of borders, resumption of flights, and family reunions.
These conflicts have their moments of absurdity but it's also very important to note that they are rooted in deep historical claims, national pride, and strategic interests. The conflicts are ongoing as much as they are history, making it a complex dance of diplomacy, occasional gunfire, and a lot of digital diplomacy. These conflicts are also a very clean and clear testament to Ethiopia's longstanding tradition of being keen on uninvited guests, a tradition we have kept up quite impressively over the centuries. No question that we historically served a harsh mistreatment to uninvited guests and their reactions are well expected, to the extent of creating axis against us!
All the calls for an " immediate cessation of hostilities" in Ethiopia are calls for #Ethiopia to stop short of victory. The "international community" wasn't crying for it when the TPLF was advancing on Addis and the US gov was urging US citizens to flee. #DisarmTPLF
Meles Zenawi—the architect of Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (#GERD)—changed the rule of the game on #Nile once & for all. But the current Ethiopian regime feel emasculated to give credit to Meles. So they come up with made up narrative of about GERD.