To make headway, Ethiopian Muslims have to recognize the importance of coordinated effort and utilization of resources available to them in order to make a difference in their communities as well as their country. Therefore, it was gratifying to see Ethiopian Muslims of diverse backgrounds congregating in unison in the recently held conference organized by Badr International Ethiopian Muslims Federation in Toronto, Canada.

For a long time we have been complaining that we have not been truly represented in all aspects of the Ethiopian ethos. These complaints have not emanated from unfounded claims and the glaring facts are there for anyone who wants to see and judge for themselves. To appreciate this fact, one has to simply look at the print media, movies, and journalistic works done by the so called Ethiopics which purposely depict Ethiopia as a country of Christians only. Promotional materials prepared by the Tourism Industry such as posters are well tailored to support this notion. Although we have noticed some moves to incorporate some Islamic heritages, there is a long way to go before we truly see a real representation of the Muslim population of this land.

While it is an undeniable fact that we have been marginalized for so many years, we cannot afford to continue in this pathetic state forever. We cannot expect the government to completely redress this injustice either, while we are sitting idle. Therefore, in order to untangle ourselves from the constant marginalization and improve our situation, we have to be engaged positively and embrace the idea of continuous improvement model and part of the on going changes in the country. If the process of democratization in our country takes strong foot hold, the prospect for Ethiopian Muslims to extract themselves from the continuous sidelining is not far fetched.

Ethiopian Muslims in the Diasporas have a great role to play in making this reality come true. I have noticed incremental steps have been taken by some committed individuals toward this effort and the recent Convention in Toronto can be seen from this perspective. However, it requires more than meeting once a year if we truly want to make a difference.

One of the areas for instance, where Muslims in the diasporas could be instrumental is strengthening the existing institutions that cater to the needs of Ethiopian Muslims. These institutions have been so ineffective because of lack of resources and visionary leadership. To grasp this point, one can easily look at the Ethiopian Islamic Supreme Council which has been operating for so many years and has failed to make a dent in the affairs of Ethiopian Muslims. This failure cannot just be attributed to one specific reason, but rather to a host of barriers that would be beyond the scope of this modest article to be addressed. I however, would like to mention one point where the reader can appreciate the inequity that is prevailing in our country. While the Ethiopian Orthodox Church operates with a budget in the millions and well funded by the State, the Ethiopian Islamic Supreme Council does not have the budget to even build a Mosque that accommodate the needs of the faithful. These imbalances are not caused just by the ineffectiveness of the Supreme Council but the favourable treatment that the former has been receiving from the previous governments and the constant attempt to relegate Ethiopian Muslims to the symbolic representation has continued unabated for many years.

The modest gains that have been made in recent years have raised some eye browse among some of those chauvinists who believe in the supremacy of one faith group to dominate others. The recent vilification of the Muslim population through unfounded accusations under different pretext is a clear example that this group's intention of subjugating and undermining more than half of the total population. The recent election and the live debates have raised the consciousness of the Ethiopian Muslims and I am sure in the next election they will vote strategically in order to affect the outcome of the election. Having said that, I would like to urge all Ethiopian Muslims to actively participate not only to elect representative to the parliament but to be elected as well.

Another healthy and hopeful signs that need to be recognized is that the number of Muslim Students in the various schools and institutions has significantly increased and this increase will provide a chance to Ethiopian Muslims to be actively participating in the political, social and economical spectrum. Thus, Ethiopian Muslims in the Diaspora have to assist in these endeavours by sponsoring projects that augment these initiatives.

Finally, I would like to re-iterate the importance of working together in an organized manner by making use of the resources available to us. In this regard, it is worth mentioning the efforts of the various local communities in North America and Europe for providing a medium to all those who have the wherewithal to educate the Muslim population of their rights and obligations. I would urge those who are in the various disciplines to do their share in uplifting their brethrens' spirit and to empower us so that the strength of the Muslim population is to be reckoned with and have a meaningful impact in the next election.