Ethiopia will go to the electorates to elect the next government. The ruling coalition said it will hold the national election next year, despite worries over security and the untoward happenings in the Horn of Africa. There were predictions that the election might be postponed on account of the tensions in the Horn of Africa. The truce entered between Ethiopia and Eritrea, which many hailed as a major breakthrough, is on the verge of breaking down on account of certain apprehensions on the Eritrean side that Ethiopia has got a greater advantage through the peace brokered.
However, the ruling coalition did not give a date for the poll. An attempted coup in June this year by some senior military officials in the northern Amhara region had cast many doubts whether the present dispensation can hold the bull by the horn. Sporadic ethnic violence across the country cast their shadows in holding elections in time.
But opposition parties are keen to avoid any delays despite outbreaks of ethnic violence that have contributed to the displacement of 2.4 million Ethiopians. Ethiopia is Africa’s second-most populous nation. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has rolled out a series of political and economic reforms since coming to power last year, including restoring the status of many banned political parties, releasing political prisoners and journalists, welcoming home exiled rebel groups etc.But tensions within the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), which has ruled the country with an iron grip since 1991, has mounted since the failed coup. While allegations and counter-allegations are flying thick and fast, the ruling party’s decision to hold the elections in time is reflective of its commitment to “ walk the talk” to build strong democratic institutions in the country, which was unknown for several decades.
Forward looking and well-intentioned Prime Minister has embarked on many economic reforms to push the sagging economy of the country to the central stage. Hardly is there any sector where the seeds of the reforms have not been sown. In some segments like aviation, tourism, manufacturing etc green shoots of growth are evident. In many other areas like massive employment generation, ensuring universal education and health etc, there will always be a gestation period between launching of the schemes and its successful closure. Polity should understand the intentions of the schemes and the targeted end results to evaluate the schemes in an objective manner.
Coming back on the issue of the announcement of elections as scheduled, political commentators while hailing the decision wholeheartedly are keeping the fingers crossed on the results, particularly when one of the path-breaking initiatives of Abiy-truce between Ethiopia and Eritrea-is in the verge of breaking down in the light of the reported closure of the borders. This will affect landlocked Ethiopia than Eritrea, since the former cannot fully dependent on the next door Djibouti’s harbors for movement of its goods.
