[Aekos]

I know nothing about the monarchist movement in Ethiopia, or even if it exists, but it's a real shame that the world's oldest monarchy ended when some commie peasants took control.

[Nikita]

The Japanese monarchy is the oldest, isn't it?

[Figlio di Moros]

It is a bit of a shame, if there's a chance to rebuild the empire they should go for it.

[Kaspar]

Haile Selassie should have be drawn and quartered. He was just as bad for Ethiopia as the Derg.

Reinstate the monarchy? No thanks.

[Igor Antunov]

The country is a mess, doesn't matter what they reinstate as long as it changes the status quo, the economy couldn't be any worse than it already is.

[Texpat]

Sure, add another corrupt, selfish leader to the mix.

Buy a few more Bentleys and a nice palace and some guards and maybe a show every afternoon like Sea World.

Then petition to the UN for more food and refugee aid. Makes perfect sense. The UN will likely endorse the proposal as well (they've never heard a cry for help that didn't increase their self importance).

[Aekos]

Could Ethiopia annex Eritrea? It's unfair that the country is so close to the sea but is landlocked.

[Potemkin]

Could Ethiopia annex Eritrea? It's unfair that the country is so close to the sea but is landlocked.

They did that already. It worked okay for a while, but it ended badly.

Oh, and Haile Selassi is Jah's representative on Earth. He is not dead, but will return at the End of Days to unify Africa and lead his people to the Promised Land.

[Quantum]

No, why should they restore the Ethiopian monarchy? It would be of no benefit to the people of that country and it would only serve to satisfy the Rastafari who believe that he will come back as Potemkin said.

[The fifth International]

but it's a real shame that the world's oldest monarchy ended when some commie peasants took control.

I'm not quite sure that they are the oldest. But the Ethiopian monarchy has always claimed from descent from a Solomonic line. But that theory has been much discredited. Its more or less a rallying line for the Amhara though. But the Ethiopian monarchy is much fragmented and follows an unclear line as power was shared between many kings and emperors reigning at the same time. So its not old per se.

Haile Selassie should have be drawn and quartered. He was just as bad for Ethiopia as the Derg.

He was, more or less. When Mengistu arrested the Emperor, he had him imprisoned in the quarters that were being used by the elite Imperial Army of Ethiopia. Later, although no proof exists to date except accounts by some former Derg members which are inconclusive, Mengistu is reputed to have shot the Emperor himself and had him secretly buried under the office he was using.

Could Ethiopia annex Eritrea? It's unfair that the country is so close to the sea but is landlocked.

Unfair? Since when have things been fair?

For starters, Ethiopia has exhausted all its means of acquiring a sea outlet. The final straw being Eritrean Referendum of 1993, when Ethiopia formally recognized Eritrea as a sovereign entity. As for war, the port of Assab has always been a rallying cause for uniting all Ethiopians, it was used by the May 7 opposition in the 2005 elections. Most Eritreans would rather die that see their port being given away to Ethiopia. Its the reason why Ethiopian advance to Assab met a very strong resistance during the 1998 invasion unlike other parts of Eritrea.

No, why should they restore the Ethiopian monarchy?

Right now, its next to impossible to enact the monarchy for a couple of reasons. One, Ras Teferi ( Haileslasie) was from shoa, amhara elites who are abhorred by the current junta in power. Two, not so much popular support and three Haileslasie's last son died a few years back. Pity,,,

[Aekos]

For starters, Ethiopia has exhausted all its means of acquiring a sea outlet.

They could always take Somaliland.

But it's really sad to see such a great civilization in such grinding poverty. Ethiopia needs a regime change fast. And Eritrea's dictatorship isn't faring much better.

[Rei Murasame]

The Japanese monarchy is the oldest, isn't it?

It's close one, but yes.

In Japan, Emperor Jimmu ascended the throne in around 600BCE, whereas Ethiopia was established as a Kingdom around 400BCE.

[The fifth International]

They could always take Somaliland.

Well. That's also proving to be too difficult. If there's anything a Somali and an Eritrean share, its their memory of Ethiopia's misdeeds in the past, and the abhorrence of anything Ethiopian.

But it's really sad to see such a great civilization in such grinding poverty. Ethiopia needs a regime change fast.

As an Eritrean, I'd prefer the status quo. Infact, the EPWDF is going to stay in power for 5 more years, as the outcome of the elections are pretty obvious. Come what may, Ethiopia is a hopelessly fragmented nation that couldn't stand united. There's too much schisms inside that country that one would dare say it shouldn't have existed as a nation for so long.

whereas Ethiopia was established as a Kingdom around 400BCE

The Ethiopian state came only in the 18th century. Its an amalgamate state, which is the reason why they claim it to be '3000' years old. The only kingdom that later on became part of the greater Ethiopian empire, and is probably as old as that is the Axumite Empire. Bear in mind that when Menelik II carved modern Ethiopia, he incorporated the nations of Tigray, Shoa, Gojjam, Oromia, the southern nations as well as parts of Ogaden.

[Aekos]

As an Eritrean, I'd prefer the status quo.

You wish eternal poverty and hardship onto your neighbor? That's rather un-Christian of you

[Umibozu]

No regime change will fix Ethiopia. They might as well just split up into small state-like governances. At least then there's the possibility of some Ethiopians breaking free. Their "nation" status just drags those who might succeed down.

[The fifth International]

You wish eternal poverty and hardship onto your neighbor?

I will not if they stop coveting our territories.

[lombas]

Could Ethiopia annex Eritrea? It's unfair that the country is so close to the sea but is landlocked.

What kind of an argument is that?

[Igor Antunov]

What kind of an argument is that?

Ethiopia has very arid land and is prone to droughts, and as a result it's agricultural potential is super lame. Thus by denying it sea access, you deny people a critical food supply (fishing).

So yes it is unfair that ethiopia, wih a far larger population than eritrea, does not have access to this food source.

[politburo player]

Ethiopia has one of the highest fertility rates in Africa. Its population exploded from 33 million in 1983 to 79 million in 2008. We can't feel sorry for their drought/famine situations until the population reflects the number of people that Ethiopia's arid geographic area can sustain.

On a side note, In 2007 I built an Ethiopian Airlines DC-6 in 1/72 scale with custom decals in the original EAL livery...

Just like this one!

[Aekos]

We can't feel sorry for their drought/famine situations

We can't feel sorry for thousands and thousands of poor people dying of hunger? What kind of human being are you?