Lencho Bati, visiting instructor of geography, delivered a presentation to the U. S. State Department in Washington, D.C. on September 24, 2012. Mr. Bati gave his talk to the staff of the African Bureau of the State Department. He urged the United States to take an active role in stabilizing Ethiopia and promoting democracy in the region. His talk addressed human rights concerns, security issues, and the dangers of religious extremism. In his presentation, Mr. Bati noted that Ethiopia occupies a central position within the Horn of Africa, bordering each of the other countries in the Horn. He also noted that the Oromo people make up about half of Ethiopia’s population and yet have been excluded from most governance. The Oromo territory is rich in mineral resources and is the center for coffee production in Ethiopia.
Mr. Lencho Bati has taught courses at Gustavus in World Regional Geography, International Development, and the Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa since 2004.