Questioning the Interference of External Actors on the Internal Affairs of Ethiopia on the Case of Northern Armed Conflict

Abstract

The global world is being characterized in terms of Darwinism in interfering with other sovereign entities and boldly violates the principles of “non-interference on internal affairs of other sovereign states”. Ethiopia is striving to materialize these globally agreed principles and struggling to maximize its own security interests in proposing free domestic affairs and lacerating itself for its sovereignty. This study attempts to analyze the interference of foreign actors in the internal affairs of Ethiopia in the case of the Northern Armed conflict. The study employed a qualitative research approach via case study design and a key informant interview was held through purposive sampling in selecting officials and experts. The rationality of foreign interference on the domestic political issues of Ethiopia by dismantling the government as it is non-legitimate and riding the popular sovereignty of Ethiopia and saving the status quo of the previous western-affiliated regime. The foreigners involved in a direct confrontation on Northern armed conflict by employing cyber security apparatus and competing to control digital diplomacy and discontented attempt to Ethiopia as violator state of international norms in Africa. International government organizations and humanitarian aid providers were prominent actors and implemented the intrusions. Geopolitical interests, the national and historical pride of Ethiopia, and negligence of political transition are galvanizing the attraction of external actors. The state should reverse these problems by revising foreign policy and diplomacy using pragmatic orientations, by considering the pitfall in preserving the national interests of the state rather than sustaining a political regime.