If you need proof, over the last year or so EK has hired 11 Ethiopian pilots. It makes no diff if they are FO's or DEC's. pilots are pilots when it comes to recruits, we will hire them regardelss of nationality or colour.
In fact the only difference is that the standards applied to F/O's doing upgrade is far more stringent than that applied to new join DEC's.
So if you are inept, better apply as a DEC