247. Memorandum From Philip Ringdahl of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (McFarlane)1
SUBJECT
- AFRICA—Short Trends and Developments
[Omitted here is information unrelated to the African famine.]
Ethiopia: Some disquieting moves, none which point to any prospect that Mengistu has seen the light. The drought and famine do not appear to have undermined Mengistu’s military power base, which remains strong because of the strongly favored position of the military in Ethiopia—and the continuing military assistance they receive from the Soviets. After all, periodic famines have been with Ethiopia for centuries. Despite our food aid, official criticism of the U.S. remains strong and sometimes virulent. Mengistu recently announced a move toward establishing a “People’s Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.”2 Ethiopia also is studying the advantages of joining CEMA. While the U.S. can take pride in its humanitarian impulse to save hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians from starvation, there is no evidence that our generosity has moved Mengistu and other hardliners one inch politically. As Ethiopian barriers and food diversion remain, we should consider reducing FY 86 programs.
[Omitted here is information unrelated to the African famine.]
- Source: Reagan Library, 1985 SYS 4 INT, 40651–40699. Secret. Sent for information.↩
- In telegram 2128 from Addis Ababa, April 9, the Embassy discussed Mengistu’s April 8 report to the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Ethiopia, which mentioned the formation of the People’s Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D850243–0056)↩