US policymakers admired Hussen’s anti-corruption drive but feared his nationalist stance

Evidence

Diplomatic rhetoric aside and given the well-known fact that America regularly intervened in the internal affairs of countries whose policies it found disagreeable, American policy makers recognized Osman’s aversion to communism but also his well-established and deep nationalist character, and therefore, the diplomat’s reply to Egal’s query might not be diplomatic nicety only. However, and despite appreciation for Hussen’s efforts to clean up the administration and play by democratic rules, there were concerns about his tough nationalist attitude toward Ethiopia and how this was not helpful to the American agenda in the region. — Abdi Ismail Samatar, Africa’s First Democrats, 911

Categorization

• XREF: Contrasts US treatment of Osman and Hussen, linking to the diplomatic record elsewhere in the book.