Ethiopian perceptions

Elections in Ethiopia were interesting. It's their fourth ever set of democratic elections, and as it turned out, the most peaceful. The current government has been in power for 20 years..... No one wanted to see the bloodshed of the official, or unofficial figures of last time. European Union election observers were everywhere, and just a little off-hand. I think they were apprehensive and wondering what we were doing there. But one great guy was telling us what a frustrating job it was: many of the candidates had ended up in hospital with younger ones in thier place who were genuinely scared. Even with clear witness and evidence of what happened the police were reluctant to get involved. And even then - the observers were only in Ethiopia for another few weeks and so it was unclear what reprecussions there would be once they left. As far as we could work out there was 100% turn out, which was verified as we asked children and teenagers if they voted - the later, definately, the former - no of course not! On the street people were either cynical or almost naive and painted the glossy media stories. Nothing inbetween. It's sparked an interest of the decocratic process off in the kids, especially with our own UK interesting election results.
Anyway - glad to see only long lines of people in all the villages we passed through and nothing more demonstrative. Ethiopia is a beautiful country which deserves to loose it's reputation from the 1985 famine - it certainly has enough wonderful landscape, rock-hewn churches and tribal groups to make a very interesting and stimulating visit.
We're now safely in Khartoum looking for a way out of Africa through Saudia Arabia. We'll find out if we need to brave Egypt or not tomorrow when we apply for our visa. We need proof of our marriage amoung other things!

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