The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam: The Role of Key Leaders in Its Development

 The blog of Lawrence Freeman posted on 24 July 2025 an article titled "The Legacy & Vision of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam."

The article examines the historical context of Nile water usage, the roles played by four Ethiopian leaders in advancing the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, and the dam's prospects for aiding Ethiopia's sovereignty and prosperity.  

Upcoming Documentary about Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie

 CBS did a brief interview titled "Grandpa Was an Emperor" with Yeshi Kassa, granddaughter of Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie and now a New York banker, concerning an upcoming documentary about Haile Selassie.  The details of the documentary are still being worked out, but based on this interview it sounds like it will be worth the wait.

Ethiopia: The Fall of Haile Selassie from an American Perspective

 The Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training published a commentary titled "The Last Emperor--The Fall of Haile Selassie."

This is a collection of recollections by American diplomats associated with Ethiopia during the final years of Emperor Haile Selassie's reign.  They recorded their memory of events years after moving on to other positions, often after retirement from the State Department.  

Ethiopia: From Rule to Responsibility

 Ethiopia Insight published on 27 October 2020 a commentary titled "From Rule to Responsibility: The Path Forward for Ethiopia" by Jack Bryan who grew up in Addis Ababa and lives and works there.

The author focuses on rule, rights, and responsibility in Ethiopian governance.  He concludes that only by espousing a strong sense of responsibility will Ethiopia be able to move away from a history of centralized rule and fully realize the rights that are now the basis for volatility and violence.  Responsibility means working to find commonalities in the face of differences.

Ethiopia: Two Book Reviews

The American Interest published in March 2020 two book reviews titled "The Long Ethiopian Century" by James Barnett, journalist covering East Africa.

The author reviewed two recent books about Ethiopia: The Wife's Tale: A Personal History by Aida Edemariam and The Shadow King: A Novel by Maaza Mengiste. The Wife's Tale is a personal history of the 97-year life of the author's Ethiopian grandmother. The Shadow King is a novel based on a female resistance fighter during the Italo-Ethiopian war.

Ethiopia: Looking Back on the Overthrow of Emperor Haile Selassie

The Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training at the Foreign Service Institute outside Washington published in October 2016 the oral history accounts of several American diplomats who served at the U.S. embassy in Addis Ababa in the period before and after the overthrow of Emperor Haile Selassie in 1974. The accounts are titled "Anatomy of an Overthrow: Why a Revered African Leader Was Toppled."

The Last Emperor: The Fall of Haile Selassie

The Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training (ADST) published on 16 October 2015 a piece titled "The Last Emperor: The Fall of Haile Selassie."  It consists of the recollections after retirement of several U.S. Foreign Service Officers who were involved with U.S. policy towards Ethiopia during the final years of the imperial government in Ethiopia.  This is part of the ADST oral history program. 

The Evolution of China-Ethiopia Relations

This is Africa published on  31 March 2013 my brief commentary titled "The Evolution of China-Ethiopia Relations."  It argues that Chinese influence in Ethiopia today is equal to or rivals that of any other country, including the United States. 

Ethiopia: History of Participation in the Korean War

South Korea's Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs has posted online in English a 205 page history of Ethiopia's participation in the Korean War titled "The Eternal Partnership: Ethiopia and Korea."  This account documents the actions of the brave Kagnew Battalions that fought in Korea between 1951 and 1954.

This research came to my attention in, of all places, the January-March 2014 issue of "Menelik's Journal" published by the Ethiopian Philatelic Society.  This is an essential journal for all collectors of Ethiopian stamps.