Ethiopia’s friend Sir Bob Geldof praised recent economic and social progress, yet advised more political inclusiveness last week.

The Ethiopian Radio and Television Agency (ERTA) reported last Monday that:

The renowned [Irish] singer, Sir Bob Geldof has visited Ethiopia at different occasions. The artist contributed his share in mobilizing the international community to respond to the 1984 Ethiopian famine.

Geldof was in Addis Ababa recently for the 22nd World Economic Forum on Africa. In an interview with ERTA he compared Ethiopia’s speedy economic growth with that of Rwanda, Kenya and Ghana.

He particularly applauded the growth the country has registered in the agriculture sector. According to Geldof, Ethiopia has also showed remarkable improvement in health and education sectors.

On the other hand, AFP reported two days earlier that Bob Geldof urged Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to be more inclusive and tolerant of civil society groups. Geldof was quoted as saying that:

"If they keep saying ‘you can’t write anything critical,’ they’re in trouble….Have them participate, allow the pressure valve to come off".

"[the recent economic and social progress] will stumble if they don’t bring their people into the argument," he warned, adding that Meles is a "very intelligent leader who truly understands government."

"You cannot stifle people’s voices. If it became more inclusive, if argument was allowed if the country — if civil society is allowed to breathe — then you would see a reduction in all this independence activity," he said.

"One way or another, civil society will win. They will win, there’s more of them, and people will breathe."

Though Geldof may not be an expert in Ethiopian politics, his advise should be taken in good faith. It is to be recalled that Geldof publicly challenged BBC when it aired, few months before the 2010 Ethiopian elections, an allegation that the 1984 aid was spent on weapon purchase. Eight months later, BBC issued a formal apology.

According to an entry on Microsoft Encarta: Bob Geldof, born in 1954, is an Irish rock singer. Geldof was the leader of the group the Boomtown Rats from 1975 through 1986. In the mid-1980s he started a charity called Band Aid, which raised money for famine relief, primarily for Ethiopia.

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