Visionary Leadership for a Sustainable EDA

 As we look closely around the EDA today, it’s clear that there is plenty of leadership---but we are sadly lacking in visionary leadership----leadership with a clear picture of the future that works for everyone and for all in the oppositions camps and help unite the different factions with unison to topple the dictatorial regime residing in Asmara ASAP before our people perish. There are few leaders who can see the big picture and who have a long term, whole-system perspective. But it’s equally disappointing to realize that many of those leaders with vision—those who have a clear view of the future not seeing them come or brought to the leadership level.

 There is a growing recognition and concerns that without vision and leaders of vision this EDA as we know it is going to march on the same step moving nowhere. And in my observation and others the EDA needs a visionary leader if is needed be seen and received as a powerful to reckon with in our region and to send a clear and resound message to its neighboring countries, that it means business when it comes to resolving the misery of the Eritrean  people. We think we would recognize a visionary leader when we see one, and we constantly complain about the quality of our leaders. Yet how often do we acknowledge that the attributes, qualities and abilities we collectively are willing to recognize and support in our leaders determines the kind of leaders who can emerge? If we want visionary leaders, we have to be able to perceive them and support them.     

Hence, I humbly urge the EDA leaders in their coming meeting to look for visionary leaders who are willing and able to work with imagination, insight, and boldness. A visionary leadership that presents a challenge that calls forth the best in people and brings them together around a shared sense of purpose. Visionary leaders that shape events not shaped by events in the Horn  and in the region, and their eyes on the horizon and not shortsighted _self in-powering, but seeing the big picture and thinking strategically-- saving the nation from the current horrible situation.

There is a profound interconnectedness between the leader and the whole, and true visionary leaders serve the good of the whole. They recognize that there is some truth on both sides of most polarized issues in our society ---- in this case the—EDA. So, they search for solutions that transcend the usual adversarial approaches and address the casual level of problems. Finding a higher synthesis of the best of both sides of an issue and address the systemic root causes of the problems to create real breakthrough is what is needed now.

Yabrahim