Ethiopia Could Descend Into Chaos: OFC chairman

Ethiopian opposition leader Merera Gudina says despite the political reform initiated by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s administration, the country’s democratic process remain very fragile and there is an urget need for the formation of comprehensive national consensus.

In a televised interview on September 23, Merera, the chairman of the opposition Oromo Federalist Congress, said that democratic reform might have been initiated from above but the fundamental change is not being translated into action on the ground. “National consensus on many key issues has to be reached in order for the citizens to feel the government is their own. The Prime Minister has good words. But those good words are not being translated into action. This is especially so with regards to reforming institutions such as the civil service and the judicial system. There might have been some improvements but the basics remain unchanged.The same thing could be said for the armed force and intelligence apparatus, whose top leaders have been replaced but their working principles have not changed. We have not yet built durable, fundamental change,” Merera said, speaking in Amharic in an interview he granted to the private television channel, Nahoo TV.

The Prime Minister has good words. But those good words are not being translated into action.

Merera, the leader of Oromia’s largest legally registered opposition party released from prison in January 2018 having been jailed on charges of association with terrorist groups for more than a year. He told the interviewer that his party OFC is currently in a much better position, managing to open more than 100 branches in Oromia region in recent months. “This has been one of the positive developments of the new administration and we have been organizing several meetings and rallies. Authorities and security forces have been supporting us.”

While acknowledging the progress on this area, the OFC chairman maintains the primary task for the way ahead should be to negotiate on a genuine national consensus, which would enable fundamental intuitional reform to be undertaken. “The ruling party EPRDF is saying it is going through deep renewal but that is not sufficient to manage the transition. It will not take us anywhere. In order to widen engagement in political activism and foster political stability, national consensus among all stakeholders on how to govern the country should be reached. Anything less than that would mean creating conditions favourable for an authoritarian takeover.”

“This is a huge task. The Prime Minister’s sole desire, commitment, knowledge would not be enough. What is needed is a new change of system.”

With two years to go before the next election, Merera questions if conditions are put in place for the country to be able to handle the election process. “It is good that Prime Minister Abiy has pledged to make the next election free and fair. Despite the promise and changes at the top leadership of the National election Board, there has to be tangible efforts in preparing and equipping the 500,000 people who would be involved in implementing the process.”

“The country is poised at a dangerous crossroad.

The OFC chairman also made a call for the government to bring new blood and talent to the fore to reform the civilian political elite at the federal and regional level. “What is happening now is mid-level and senior cadres of the regime are being recycled. People are complaining the administrators have not been changed in their villages. This is causing dissatisfaction. That is also why small bombs are exploding in many places,” he said.

“The country is poised at a dangerous crossroad. Unless the government, the opposition forces, the public come together to move on the nation, the current atmosphere of optimism could turn into despair,” he said. “Especially, the ruling party has to act in rapid manner to bring full-scale reform and fundamental change. A sluggish and partial change on the part of the government could have bad consequences and could lead the country to descend into chaos, and abyss of civil strife.”

“Unless handled carefully such improvements and reforms could easily evaporate,” he continued.

“Especially, I would advise the TPLF leaders and Tigrayan elite to stop this persistence of saying, “We have to return to our revolutionary democracy line.”  The country is for all of us and they should be careful not plunge it  into unnecessary war.”

Main Image: Merara Gudina photo credit The Reporter

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