If you’re looking for the worst government on Earth, look no further. Mengistu has combined a murderous assault on human rights with an economic program that has made Ethiopia the world’s poorest nation. He has also prosecuted an endless war against secessionist rebels in two provinces, Eritrea and Tigre. Well, not quite endless: The rebellion in Eritrea began when John Kennedy was president.
Americans will be surprised to learn that the villain is not a lack of food. Vast supplies, including a quarter of a million tons sent by the U.S. government, now sit in Ethiopian ports, waiting to be delivered to those in need. Blocking the way is the Ethiopian government, which uses starvation as a weapon in a monstrous war against its own people. An estimated 7 million people are in mortal danger.
