By Miwodew Muluye
Addis Ababa (AMECO)- An exiled academic representing Ethiopia’s five-million-strong diaspora at the national dialogue conference has called on the government to remove bureaucratic barriers limiting non-financial contributions from abroad.
Dr Solomon Hailemariam, a Toronto-based author and founder of PEN Ethiopia who fled the country in 2015, argued that overseas Ethiopians offer vital technical expertise and diplomatic leverage alongside billions of dollars in annual remittances.
Speaking to Amhara Media Corporation, Dr Solomon Hailemariam highlighted official data showing remittance inflows exceeded $5bn (£3.8bn) last fiscal year, with government targets set at $8bn for 2025–26.”These are not just statistics,” Dr Solomon said. “Every dollar sent home pays for food, school fees, and healthcare for millions of Ethiopian households. It is a lifeline.”
Beyond immediate financial aid, he pointed to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) as a primary example of diaspora-backed development. Overseas professionals provided hydrological and engineering expertise, offered diplomatic support, and raised capital for the project.
Dr Solomon also noted the growing impact of returning medical professionals who conduct specialised surgeries, train local staff, and donate critical equipment, alongside diaspora groups acting as informal ambassadors to counter misinformation abroad.
However, red tape continues to hinder systematic cooperation. “Bureaucratic hurdles and policy gaps sometimes constrain the diaspora’s potential,” Dr Solomon said, acknowledging that recent government efforts to address these bottlenecks were encouraging.
Dr Solomon, who won the Burt Award for African Literature and published Ethiopian Elites’ Political Cultures in 2025, stressed that the diaspora’s role must evolve beyond financial transfers toward long-term institution-building.