Ethiopan undemocratic govt, a dilemma of western donors Sudan Tribune, Sudan - Feb 23, 2007 The second most populous country in Africa and one of the poorest, Ethiopia is a test case for the West in its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty on the continent. But its government’s undemocratic leanings have presented donor countries with a dilemma. Should they continue to funnel their taxpayers’ money to a country that routinely jails and tortures its critics or should they turn off the tap and thereby hurt the blameless poor? Most donors are keeping up or even increasing their giving. Britain, with qualms, is upping its aid from $180m last year to $260m this year. Some donors have harmonised and even pooled their support. Many have signed up to schemes to promote transparency and hold the government to account. Whether the nastier bits of Ethiopia’s government will co-operate fully is moot ...