The ruling coalition in Ethiopia, People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), has announcedit will hold a national election in 2020.
Why This Matters
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, after coming into power in 2018, rolled out a series of political reforms which included unbanning many political parties, releasing thousands of political prisoners/journalists, signing a peace agreement with neighbouring Eritrea, widening press freedoms and welcoming home exiled rebel groups.
No Good Deed goes Unpunished
While the Prime Minister’s reforms created new freedom and political liberalism for citizens it has also resurrected old grievances and disputes, sparking waves of unrest in different parts of the country.
This has resulted in minor clashes and an attempted coup in June by a rogue militia in the northern Amhara region. These events, amongst others, have raised doubts over the ruling party’s ability to ensure security, or hold an election.
What Date is the Election?
Although a specific date has not been announced, Getachew Reda, in a statement issued after the meeting of the Executive Committee, said: “The executive committee has decided the election to be conducted next year.”
Opposition parties are keen on having the date be sooner than later to avoid delays that could result in ethnic violence and many believe that the date will be set for early 2020.
Will the Ruling Coalition continue?
The ruling coalition, the Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) renowned for its secrecy and centralism, has been in power since 1991. The coalition, made up of four parties, now appears to be dealing with internal disagreement, which may reduce its chances of returning to power when the elections hold.
Two of the EPRDF’s parties have also changed their names, recently, a sign of the squabbles and newfound autonomy. The Oromo People’s Democratic Organisation (OPDO), led by Prime Minister Abiy, became the Oromo Democratic Party (ODP) and the ANDM followed suit, soon after, to become the Amhara Democratic Party (ADP).
Ethiopia, Africa’s second most populous nation, has had over 4.4million of its citizens displaced due to violence and unrest.
