For a year, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed. In a rush, he liberalized the country, and abroad, he is celebrated as a Reformer. But the list of his challenges is still long.
Ethiopia is experiencing a turning point: Since taking office, the Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed puts an enormous commitment to Reform: conclusion of peace with the neighboring Eritrea, economic reforms and reconciliation talks with the Opposition – all the the new man in the office in only a year. Nevertheless, blowing him from his political opponents a strong headwind in the face.
As a Premier Abiy Ahmed on 2. April 2018 as Prime Minister was sworn in, put the country for four years in the crisis. Twice already, the government had imposed due to the violent protests against the rule of the government coalition EPRDF. The stability of the 100-million-inhabitants-of the country threatened to tip more.
Difficult Start-Up Conditions
Particularly difficult is the Situation in the Oromia Region, which includes the capital, Addis Ababa. Since 2014, there were violent clashes between security forces and the population. The trigger for the Plan of the government, some areas of the Region in the capital, Addis Ababa, to integrate. Oromia is one of the nine Federal States of Ethiopia. The Oromo are the largest population group in the country, but politically and socially from other groups of the population marginalized, who dominate the government coalition EPRDF.
The new Prime Minister has not been able to end the ethnic conflict
After long protests, the events were precipitated suddenly: The government coalition EPRDF promised to find solutions, and went for 17 days to deliberations behind closed doors. 15. February Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, resigned unexpectedly from his Post. A month later, the party members of the EPRDF, came together to select their Chairman, who then took over, according to tradition, the office of the government. After only seven days, the party Abiy Ahmed chose to be the Chairman. On 2. April confirmed the Parliament, the 42-Year-old as Prime Minister. With him, the Oromo for the first time, the office of Ethiopia.
Ahmed was in a hurry to work. For the release of hundreds of political prisoners, journalists and activists, he received at home and abroad high praise. He went even further: the opposition politician, he brought back from exile and allowed open debates about political issues. Kjetil tronvoll on location, Professor of peace and conflict research at the Björknes University of Oslo, looks at all the positive: “He has disconnected the authoritarian state, and a diversity of opinions to emerge,” he says Interview at the DW.
Ethnic conflicts continue to fester
This success is evident today in the streets of Addis Ababa: Newspapers and magazines sell well, since you no longer need to print only the opinion of the government. The electronic media are conquering the market and provide a platform for open dialogues. Opposition groups can organize freely.
Many people have fled the ethnic violence
Merera Gudina, Chairman of the opposition party “Medrek” and a Professor of political science at the University of Addis Ababa, is also of the opinion that Ahmed for this is due to the recognition of the repressive legislation changed. It is a roadmap for elections in 2020 is missing. “There is a national consensus among the political parties is missing,” he criticizes in the DW-Interview. Tronvoll on location agrees, but also emphasizes: “critics should consider that he (Ahmed) is just a Person.”
Criticism of the Prime Minister, there is, because ethnic conflicts are on the increase more and more. Currently, there are three million IDPs in the country. “I’m not saying that the Prime Minister is for the Outburst of the conflicts. But his biggest mistake is not to respond that concrete out,” said tronvoll on location. “It makes the lives of many people unbearable.” Because of the ethnic violence Ahmed has also postponed a planned census. Some are in favour of this step, because he mountains a risk of further instability. Others see it as a Problem for the in may 2020, the planned elections.
‘Binding document’ is missing
Ahmed’s international policy received at the beginning of his term in office, a lot of encouragement. He ended the ice age with the neighbor Eritrea. The end of the nineties, both countries had made a bloody border war. Only Ahmed a decision of the International court of arbitration was court, 2002 – the court had confirmed the time course of the border in favour of arch-rival Eritrea. He also met with Eritrean head of state, Isais Afewerki. Be diplomatic dialogue in the neighbouring countries of Sudan, Somalia and Djibouti support.
Abroad, Ahmed gets for his course of Reform, a lot of praise
However, this peace process has not been sufficiently underpinned with additional agreements to regulate the trade, the currency, the issues of nationality, or the security between the two countries, binding, believes expert tronvoll on location. “There is not a binding document as the basis for peace with Eritrea, only a Declaration of intent that was signed in July 2018 in the capital, Asmara.”
After a year in Power, the phenomenon is the same “Abiymania”. “The Prime Minister should set priorities and not try to beat all of the ‘battles’ at a Time. He will have to overcome the challenges that are brought to him by his own party and the Opposition, contrary to,” adds tronvoll on location.
During the state visit in Germany in October 2018 20,000 of exiled Ethiopians came, however, to greet the Prime Minister in Frankfurt. In Addis Ababa, the people will feel the reforms of Sultan Ahmed, but skepticism remains. “Yes, there were reforms under Abiy. But there was also displacement of people and ethnic divisions within the political parties. There is hope, but also a threat,” says it Tigstu Awelu of the opposition party UDJ, in the DW-Interview.