Ethiopia’s ruling coalition, Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), has disclosed last Saturday that it has approved proposal to end life of the coalition and embark on a new chapter as as a merged single national party.
Take a reportage from the audio file below.
Video : embedded from Andafta YouTube channel Cover photo : screenshot from video
Ahadu Sabure, legendary Ethiopian journalist, passed away on Sunday at the age of 94. He was among the pioneers in Ethiopian journalism and has served under Emperor Haile Selassie’s imperial government.
He has also served as a diplomat. He was Ethiopia’s ambassador in Djibouti and Somalia.
He reportedly passed away in Los Angeles, California, where he lived for a long time, according to Voice of America Amharic service.
His funeral will take place in Los Angeles next Friday at the Holy Cross Cemetery. According to VOA Amharic service, he spoke five other languages in addition to Amharic.
As Sidama referendum for a separate ethnic based statehood is happening on Wednesday November 20, rights group express concern for the security of minority ethnic groups in the region, among other issues.
Photo file / via Reuters
borkena November 19, 2019
Amnesty International is calling for Ethiopian government ahead of Sidama referendum, which is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, to “take all steps” to ensure deadly violence like the one that happened in July 2019 in the region is not happening again.
The organization’s Deputy Director for East Africa, Seif Magango, has called on the Ethiopian government not to use excessive force,guarantee freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and protect the rights of ethnic minorities in Sidama region are protected.
As many as 170 people were killed when Election Board of Ethiopia disclosed in July of this year that the date for Sidama referendum were postponed. Ejeto, youth groups of radical Sidama ethnic nationalists, are believed to be behind the massacre.
Amnesty International’s statement issued on November 19,2019 reads as follows :
Ethiopia: Authorities must prevent violence and protect rights during Sidama referendum
Spokespersons available to take media interviews
Ahead of tomorrow’s referendum on a separate state for Ethiopia’s Sidama ethnic group, Amnesty International called on the Ethiopian authorities to take all steps to ensure there is no repeat of the deadly violence that broke out when the referendum was postponed in July.
“The Ethiopian authorities must take all appropriate measures to ensure a peaceful vote, including preventing excessive use of force by the security forces. They must guarantee freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and ensure that the rights of members of minority ethnic groups in Sidama are fully protected,” said Seif Magango, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes.
“The referendum comes at an especially tense time when violence based on ethnic differences is breaking out all over the country and people are being killed simply for expressing their opinions.”
No official death toll has been published from the clashes in July when protests broke out following the postponement of the plebiscite, but Sidama activist groups put the figure at almost 170.
Campaigners are calling for a separate state for the Sidama ethnic group, which is currently part of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region. The Ethiopian constitution requires the government to organize a referendum for any ethnic group that requests a separate state.
Public Document
For more info or to arrange an interview please contact Amnesty Press Office:
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has conveyed a message about the merger of major and support parties of Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF).
His message came after the conclusion of the three days meeting of executive committee members of the ruling coalition which approved the merger and finalized bylaws and political program of the party which will no longer be revolutionary democracy.
In his three minutes of message, to be exact a litter over three minutes, he said that the new party, Prosperity for Ethiopia, is capable of ensuring not only material prosperity of Ethiopia but also the dignity, freedom and multi-faceted prosperity of Ethiopia. Watch his message ( in Amharic) below.
Video : embedded from Fana Broadcasting Corporation YouTube channel Cover photo : screenshot from video
TPLF intends to form a “defacto state” state if the Federal government is postponing Ethiopia’s general election in 2020.
Abiy Ahmed (left) , Debretsion Gebremichael (right)
borkena November 19, 2019
As reported last Saturday, six members of Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) voted against the merger of organizations and parties under the umbrella of Ethiopia’s ruling coalition during the executive committee meeting which lasted for three days.
Now details emerge that TPLF did not attend the executive committee meeting on Sunday, according to a report by BBC Amharic service on Tuesday. Logically, since the meeting after Sunday discussed party program and bylaws of the new party to be formed with the brand prosperity party, continuing to attend the meeting appears to have no relevance for TPLF.
However, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and TPLF executive committee members met separately on Sunday, BBC Amharic reported citing Asmelash Woldeselassie, one of TPLF’s executive committee members, as a source. It is, however, unclear as to who initiated the meeting.
What is known about the meeting is that the agenda was the difference between TPLF, on the issue of merger, and the rest of the coalition members of EPRDF that TPLF used to dominate for nearly three decades. Abiy Ahmed, was apparently going extra-mile to see if he can convince them to continue to work with their former colleagues. And as it turns out, no agreement was reached, as reported by BBC Amharic which cited what it called sources close to the party.
Except one member of TPLF executive who returned to Mekele, seven members of TPLF have attended the separate meeting with Abiy Ahmed.
Although it is known that TPLF was no vocal opposition in the past regarding merger in the party, it has now emerged as a party that opposes the merger. It sees the merger as a danger to the unity of Ethiopia and also as a betrayal of revolutionary democracy ideology.
Paradoxically, TPLF also the effort to merge member parties of Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) as an “effort to create a unitary form of government and an effort to maintain a hold on power.”
Those who support the merger, this includes five parties who were considered as “support parties” with no voting privileges in the decision making process of the coalition, do not see it as a threat to the Federal system in Ethiopia. They rather see it as an important step to ensure equal participation based on multi-cultural federal system. They also see the proposed merger, which is essentially completed, as relevant to give what Abiy Ahmed’s administration calls “change.”
The process of merging the parties is almost completed. PM Abiy Ahmed conveyed a message in three languages on Monday soon after the completion of the executive committee meeting in which he said “he was very happy that the meeting brought the committee members closer together.” The party program and bylaws are drafted and sent to the party council for approval. It seems Abiy Ahmed is certain that it will get approved.
Meanwhile, 43rd year Number 2 edition of TPLF party newspaper, Woyne, had an extensive coverage about plan of actions if the next general election is extended. If the Federal election is postponed, Tigray could have its own election in order to avert what it called “legitimacy crisis”, as reported by VOA Amharic. The party newspaper also thought in terms of forming a “Defector State” – something that opposition parties operating in Tigray, like Arena Tigray, opposed.
Ethiopia seeks to acquire a 4 billion euro worth of fighter jets, a 6000 kilometers range missile and helicopters among other things
Abiy Ahmed meeting with Emmanuel Macron during his visit to Paris in October 2018. Photo file/ credit : French embassy in Addis Ababa
borkena November 19, 2019
A report published this week by one of the top French news provider, La Point, says Ethiopia is seeking to purchase weapons worth more than 4 billion Eu from France on a long term credit basis.
The report makes a reference to a letter, which it published, that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed wrote to the French President Emmanuel Macron requesting support “strengthen the Ethiopian Air Force.”
Apparently written in July of this year, according to a report by Le Point, the form of support Ethiopian Prime Minister was asking to be able to purchase fighter jets, military helicopters, military transport helicopters, long range missiles and nuclear warheads among other things.
The credit shopping list includes 12 combat aircraft, 18 helicopters, two Airbus manufactured military transport aircraft, 10 unmanned combat drones, electronic jamming system and 30 M51 missiles capable of hitting a target at 6000 kilometers distance, as revealed by La Point.
Ethiopia and France have singed a military cooperation agreement sometime in March 2019 as the former is planning to re-establish a naval force.
Apparently, France declined to entertain Ethiopia request to reinforce its defense system. And France’s position seem to have something to do with its relationship with Egypt whom the La Point report described as “a major buyer of French arms since 2014”
Tewfik Aclimando a professor at Cairo University and connoisseur of the Egyptian staff is quoted as saying “The Egyptians would take it badly, because we are more than in competition with the Ethiopians, who did everything to lead to the blocking of the diplomatic way.”
On the other hand, there are commentators who analyzed Ethiopia’s pursuit of modernizing its military within the context of Ethiopia’s role in the region.
The news source quoted, Sabine Planel, expert at Research Institute for Development (IRD) as saying “by equipping itself with a military arsenal, Ethiopia is strengthening its credibility in the region as a local guardian of peace. And stands as a bulwark against the jihadist movements present in the Horn of Africa”
France and Ethiopia have also cooperation agreements in other areas. For example, France embarked on a project of rescuing Ethiopia’s 13th century spiritual and cultural heritage, the rock-hewn churches of Lalibella,
Colonel Fisseha Desta has served as vice-president of Ethiopia during colonel Mengistu Hailemariam administration.
In an interview with Nahoo TV, which was actually conducted several weeks ago, he reveals some secret issues with regard to the Eritrean Liberation struggle.
In terms of support, he made it clear that Arab countries were involved behind Eritrea. Colonel Fisseha Desta himself said that he has traveled to Algeria, Libya and Iraq to explain the Eritrean case.
He said that the government of Iraq under the late Saddam Hussein understood as the persecution of Muslims and Fisseha Desta had to use the case of kurds to explain the Eritrean cause which is when Saddam Hussein recommended Federation for Eritrea.
Algeria and Libya firmly supported Eritrean Liberation Struggle for Independence.
In a remark in connection with the secession of Eritrea, Colonel Fisseha Desta seems to think that had it not been for the rigidity of colonel Mengistu Hailemariam, Eritrea would remain would have remained part of Ethiopia.
Watch the interview below.
Video : embedded from Nahoo TV YouTube channel Cover photo : screenshot from video
Ethiopian government says Sidama referendum for ethnic statehood ended with no security incident. The status of Hawassa, a city that has served as the seat of SNNPR for over 27 years and a city that has changed very much in those years due to private and public investment could potentially remain a controversial question should the outcome of the referendum is separate ethnic Sidama statehood
Credit : Awassa Guardian
borkena November 20, 2019
Head of SNNPR regional state Restu Yirdaw said that voting in the referendum concluded peacefully, reported by state media Ethiopian News Agency (ENA).
Voting started as early as 6.a.m. local time across 1,692 polling stations organized for this purpose. In areas where the number of registered voters was small, the voting process was completed ahead of scheduled time, ENA reported.
Regional police, Federal Police force and Sidama zone security coordinated their work to ensure peace during the voting process, said Restu.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who was apparently supportive of the “Sidama question” from get go, hailed it in a positive light before it was even completed ; “Sidama referendum is an expression of the democratization path Ethiopia has set out on.”
The National Election Board of Ethiopia is expected to disclose the outcome in 48 hours.
Over one million people cast votes in the referendum. It was organized to determine the ethnic-based statehood question demanded by Sidama.
There are reports that most non-Sidama ethnic communities in Hawassa town and other areas in the region boycotted what a local news provider described as a “controversial event.”
If ethnic-Sidama nationalists win the referendum, it means that Sidama, currently a zone administration within Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People’s Region, will have its own separate regional-state status, and will become the 10th regional state in Ethiopia.
Yet, the status of Hawassa, should the outcome of the referendum favors separate ethnic Sidama state, is something that is to be determined in consultation with the regional state has it has served as the seat of SNNPR for over 26 years now which means that the region’s entire resources have been invested in the city.
So the wealth of the city is to be divided between Sidama and the more than fifty ethnic groups that have been, to date, under the administration of SNNPR. In fact, the National Election Board of Ethiopia has made that clear from the beginning.
There have been voices calling for the postponement of the referendum on grounds of voter registration fraud and what not but the national election board did not seem to want to address them.
The process leading to Sidama referendum has been a bloody one. In July 2019, radical ethnic Sidama Nationalist youth believed to be agitated by Jawar led radical ethnic Oromo nationalists, announced an ultimatum calling for Ethiopia’s election board to organize a referendum by July 18, 2019.
As Ethiopia’s election board ignored the ultimatum (response came a day after the deadline for the ultimatum), radical Sidama nationalists launched a violent attacks against non-Sidama ethnic communities in the region leaving at least 54 dead and over 100 wounded, as confirmed by security authorities in the region.
Several other ethnic communities in the region have demanded similar rights and most of them have finalized the initial requirement which is getting the zone council to vote on it and formally submit their demands to SNNPR state.
Ethiopian Defense Minister, Lemma Megersa, and UAE state minister for Defense Affairs, Mohammed Bin Ahmed signing the agreement. Credit : FBC
borkena November 20, 2019
The economic and political influence of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been noticeably growing in the post-Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) Ethiopia.
And now is seemingly extending “cooperation” in the military area too.
Ethiopian government-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporation (FBC) reported on Wednesday that the two countries have reached an agreement to strengthen military cooperation.
The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the 16th Air show in Dubai, the source added.
Ethiopia’s minister for Defense, Lemma Megersa, former boss of Ethiopian prime minister and one of the key powerful figures in the country in the post TPLF era, and UAE state minister for Defense Affairs, Mohammed Bin Ahmed have signed the agreement.
Details of the agreement are not disclosed. What is known, based on FBC’s report, is that UAE sees the agreement as “part of its cooperation with the international community.”
UAE injected $US 1 billion soon after Abiy Ahmed became Prime Minister so as to ease what was then described as a “chronic foreign currency shortage.”
The Gulf country has secured a multi-billion dollars investment deal in the construction sector in Ethiopia in the aftermath of “political change” in the country.
Ethiopian Airlines has issued a statement on Thursday regarding an incident on board of ET817 which was flying from Addis Ababa to Bujumbura and Kigali.
A passenger was making a bomb threat during landing at Bujumbura airport, in Burundi.
The airlines said it was a “false alarm.”
Police arrested the passenger who caused it and was charged with “international air rage.” His name is not disclosed.
The plane has arrived safely and all passengers were safe, said Ethiopian Airlines.
The full statement reads as follows:
Statement on ET817 False Alarm
Addis Ababa, 21 November, 2019
Ethiopian Airlines flight number ET817 on a scheduled flight from Addis Ababa to Bujumbura and Kigali reported air rage by one unruly passenger threatening with false bomb alarm during landing at Bujumbura. The plane landed safely, and passengers disembarked using normal procedures. Police removed the unruly passenger and arrested him on international air rage.
The airplane and the crew continued with their regular schedule flight.
Ethiopian Airlines appreciates its flying crew, ground staff in Bujumbura and Burundi Airport security for their team work and coordination in complying with all safety procedures and professional handling of the false alarm.
We sincerely apologize to all our passengers onboard the flight for any inconvenience.
Tolla Geda, top Oromo regional state official in the road construction department of the region, is reportedly killed on Wednesday on his way to Qelem Wollega.
He was shot in Laloasabi locality of the region inside the car he was travelling in. The gunmen are “unidentified.”
BBC Amharic service reported on Thursday cited West Wollega Zone administration head, Elias Umata, to report that Tolla Geda was killed around 11:00 a.m. local time in the morning on Wednesday this week.
Gunmen opened fire on the car he was travelling in from left and right direction targeting passengers inside. The victim was Communication head of the regions Road Construction authority.
Deputy Head of Qelem Wollega zone administration and security officials, among others, were inside the car where Tolla Geda was killed. No one else in the car was killed or injured.
As well, the report by BBC Amharic published on Thursday said that the bullet that killed Tolla was fired from the front side of the car, and he died at the scene.
Security personnel in the car attempted, according to the report, to pursue those who perpetrated the attack intending to capture them but it was without success. The source did not spell out how far they followed them or why they were unable to capture them. At this writing the identities of the gunmen is unknown.
On the other hand, the region’s security claims that they are investigating the matter to establish the identities of those who launched the deadly attack.
There have been recurring shootings in the region targeting government officials.
In June 2019, Mayor of Dembi Dollo town was shot near his office as he was entering a car. The shooting sometimes target individuals in the private sector and foreigners as well. In March 2019, five people were killed by gunmen in Nedjo of which two of them were foreigners.
There are speculations that the military wing of the radical ethnic Oromo nationalist organization, Oromo Liberation Front, is behind the attacks in the region.
The region has been under a Command Post, body drawn from civil and military figures, tasked to restore security in the region.
Enforcing the rule of law and providing security to citizens has been a major challenge in the region to the extent that at one point in time government structure was not functioning.
Sidama referendum result known. Ethiopia’s election board says less than 4 percent of voters voted for existing administrative arrangement. Some consider the result as a win for radical ethnic Oromo nationalists including within the government
Symbols used in Sidama referendum. Shafeta (left), Gojo (right)
borkena November 23, 2019
National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) disclosed on Saturday the preliminary results of the Sidama referendum. It was organized to determine Sidama zone demand for a separate ethnic Sidama statehood, and to end zone level administration within the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People’s Region.
The referendum was administered on November 20, 2019.
According to NEBE, the result shows that ethnic Sidama communities in Sidema zone voted for creating a separate ethnic Sidama state.
A statistic released by the board shows that 2,225,249 people voted “shafeta” – a traditional food for ethnic Sidama – a symbol used to represent a separate ethnic Sidama statehood.
Result chart released by Ethiopian election board
33,463 people voted Gojo ( cottage ) – and this symbol was used to represent remaining part of Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People’s Region.
In percentages, 98.51 % of voters voted in favor of separate ethnic Sideman statehood while 1.48 % voted to remain part of the existing regional state.
The election board also said that 18,351 votes are void.
As in any other parts of Ethiopia, Sidama zone has minority ethnic communities. And their number is believed to surpass the number of people who voted for “no” in the referendum. What is suggests, assuming that there are no irregularities, a considerable number of ethnic minorities from different ethnic backgrounds either have boycotted the election or they have voted for a separate ethnic Sidama state.
Ethiopia has currently 9 ethnic based regional state and Sidama state is going to be the the 10 regional state based on the result from the national election board.
On the other hand, there are voices from the region that the election, especially in Hawassa city, is marred by irregularities.
Hawassa city has been the seat of Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People’s Regional state for nearly three decades. During these years, the city has changed very much as it has attracted both public and private investments. It has become Ethiopia’s resort city.
For political pundits, Sidama statehood question has been a strategic issue for ethnic Oromo radical nationalists both in opposition and government. Ejeto, radical ethnic Sidama youth, itself is modeled after radicalized ethnic Oromo nationalist youth Qeerroo, have demonstrated remarkable resemblance in their political characters. Violence that took place in the Oromo region of Ethiopia and in Sidama were fueled by similar ethnic nationalist narrative.
Analysts says Oromo nationalists strategy in Southern Ethiopia is to disintegrate the region in a way to weaken collective Ethiopian values and culture so that the region could be an easy target for Oromization.
Several other zone level administrations in the region have demanded for separate statehood too.
Merera Gudina has been involved in Ethiopian Politics for nearly fifty years now.
As a young man, he was a member of All Ethiopian Socialist Movement (Meison in Amharic) and was imprisoned for seven years.
In the post Colonel Mengistu Hailemariam era, Merara immersed himself in ethnic based politics and has emerged as a leader in that political tradition.
He is the chairman of Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC). Some known him as a wise politician with unwavering stand for the cause of Ethiopia even while leading an ethnic based political movement.
For others, Merera has become a perplexing political figure to say the least. From the interviews he had at different times, it has become clear that he is more into ethnic politics.
In an interview with Nahoo TV, he is clearer as to where he stands in Ethiopian politics. The way forward, for him, is to democratize existing ethnic federalism.
He even went to the extent of saying that Addis Ababa should not he in a collision course with Oromo region. In essence, what he said is that Addis Ababa is at the mercy of Oromo region.
Watch part I and Part II of his interviews below
Part II
Video : embedded from Nahoo TV YouTube channel Cover photo : screenshot from video
Some universities still continue to be scenes of clashes between students. Ministry of science claims that many Universities have now resumed classes but the situation in Adama University in Oromo region of Ethiopia seem to be different
borkena November 25, 2019
Ethiopia’s Ministry of Science and Higher Education disclosed on Monday that five students are getting medical attention after the violence at Adama university campus. But it is unclear if anyone of the students is in a life-threatening condition or not.
The clash broke out around 1:00 a.m. local time on Monday. However, the ministry did not disclose as to what the cause for the clash between students was or the identity of group or groups of students are involved in the clash.
For a couple of weeks now, there have been ethnic-based clashes in Ethiopian universities,mostly in the Oromo region, following the death of two students at Woldia University on November 10, 2019. At least 6 students were killed in the universities across Oromo region of Ethiopia following that incident.
The ministry has said that the government is working on identifying students who are responsible for the clashes at Adama University.
The update shared on social media on Monday also said that classes are suspended at Addis Ababa University as a discussion is underway between students and the University administration.
There has been tension in the university as some students, as described by the ministry, at the main campus of the University (located in siddist kilo area) demanded the release of students who are in custody suspected of instigating violence in the university campus. Again, the ministry did not share details about students who are in custody.
Meanwhile, Gondar University said in a statement on Monday that it has released 21 students who were in custody in connection with what the university called “minor clash” in the university compound. The number of suspects arrested, including employee and a person who is not a member of the university community, initially was 40.
The remaining suspects (19) are still under investigation, said the university. The update from the university lists the reasons why 19 suspects are still in custody :
Two undergraduate students were caught with 40,500 and 157,774 Ethiopian birrs, one student was captured with 4 identity cards with two different names, seven students were caught while prohibiting students not to go to class, two students were caught for attacking students, one person was captured while trying to enter university premises using the ID card of female student (students need to produce I.D. to enter to the University premises),three students were arrested after review of security footage in connection fire at the University and one employee of the university was arrested in connection with the fire.
TPLF has called for an urgent party congress to determine if party members are with the organization’s leadership and central committee members or with Ethiopia’s ruling coalition, EPRDF, leaders on the issue of merger
Debretison Gebremichal, Chairman of TPLF and acting president of Tigray region. Photo credit : TPLF
borkena November 25, 2019
Ethiopia’s ruling coalition, Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), has announced last week that three-member parties have agreed to form a single merged party. It was first decided during executive committee meeting of the coalition and six members, all from Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), opposed the decision.
Then the decision was passed at the EPRDF council meeting, again last week. 45 of the 180 members were from TPLF but this time all the 45 TPLF members boycotted the council meeting which means that TPLF, albeit it is no secret that it does not support the formation of a single party, at least at this time, was not part of the decision.
On Monday, November 25 in the afternoon, TPLF chairman and acting president of Tigray regional state, Debretsion Gebremichael had a press conference with journalists in Mekelle in the aftermath of his organization’s executive committee and central committee meetings regarding the merger issue in the ruling coalition.
The party has shared the chairman’s key points during the press conference. The gap between TPLF and three other EPRDF member parties on the issue of the merger is wide. Unlike EPRDF Council members from three parties who unanimously approved the executive committee’s decision to form a single party, TPLF central committee members have unanimously approved their organization’s executive committee members’ rejection of merger agenda.
The chairman, Debretsion, raised issues of difference with the rest of EPRDF leadership on the matter. “What is being done in the name of EPRDF member parties merger is the formation of a new political party,” he said.
“…The new party that is being formed favors ethnic groups with a large population number,” continued Debretsion, “it is something that will never bring about unity based on equality. It will create [rather] oppressor and oppressed people.”
“Some leaders could accept that based on their situation…,” However, “I do not think that Ethiopian people will accept again oppression and conditions of inferiority,” Debratision added.
He also portrayed as to what transpired, from the perspective of TPLF, during the ruling coalition’s executive committee meeting in the Prime Minister’s office in Addis Ababa a week or so ago.
Debretsion said, “When we were called to the meeting, we were told that the agenda was discussing the current affairs in the country. But that never happened and we were asked to form a merger. Those of us who participated during the meeting representing TPLF said it is not timely to discuss mergers under the existing situation of the country. What we have to discuss is about peace, national security, violation of security, displacement of citizens and the rising cost of living.”
But he admitted that the merger issue became executive committee meeting agenda with a majority vote although all TPLF members at the meeting opposed it. “We respected the majority vote and entered into the discussion. But they said ‘let us merge’ without any discussion. Then we asked whether we are merging on the basis of the program we used to follow and bylaws. But we were told to merge without discussing details of it, “said Debresion justifying why his ethnic Tigray Organization declined to merge with the rest of the parties that decided to merge and form a single party.
For TPLF, the executive party and the council of the ruling coalition do not have the legal and political authority to decide on the merger. The ruling coalition leans to the coalition congress in Awassa which happened in 2018 but TPLF says that congress did not give the council a mandate to merge member parties.
Meanwhile, ethnic-based parties with no voting privilege while being considered as part of the EPRDF coalition are having their respective meetings approving the merger agenda. So far the parties governing Afar region, Benishangul region, among others, have approved the merger.
TPLF claims that those parties who agreed to form the coalition were forced, politically, to do so. And TPLF tend to think, as stated through its chairman, the new party will lead to the oppressor and oppressed kind of relationship. Parties that were referred to as “agar” on the other hand claim that the relationship during the time when TPLF was dominating central government as a minority but powerful political entity as a time when there was no equality.
TPLF has called an emergency organizational congress to see if members at large are supportive of their organization’s leadership position or the ruling coalition’s decision to merge. That, apparently, will determine the next plan of actions for TPLF although the chairman seems to foresee that there could be a situation where peace will be an issue.
Executive Committee of Somali Democratic Party (SDP), a party that is governing Somali region of Ethiopia in the South Eastern parts of the country, unanimously passed decision on Tuesday November 26,2019 to end its existence as SDP and join Prosperity Party (PP), a new party to be formed with the merger of member parties, except TPLF, of the ruling coalition, EPRDF.
Ahmed Shide, the party’s central committee office head, in its meeting in Jijiga, SDP executive committee discussed on preconditions to join the new Prosperity Party. Among the issues that the ED discussed is whether the party’s program of the new party is considerate of the pastoral communities in the region or not.
They have also reached an agreement to make Somali language one of the working languages of the new party.
The party’s central committee will be discussing the decision from the executive committee on Wednesday and it is expected to approve merger with Prosperity Party.
So far executive committee members of parties that EPRDF call as “agar” (supporters) have approved the merger. Ruling parties in Afar region, Benishangul region, and Gambella region have also approved the merger.
All parties who have been members of the ruling coalition, EPRDF, or support parties, as they are called, have approved merger with soon to be Ethiopia’s new political party – Prosperity Party. Oromo Democratic Party and Amhara Democratic Party have officially disclosed decision. TPLF still working on Party Congress to decide on that.
borkena November 27, 2019
Two of Ethiopia’s largest parties in the ruling coalition, Amhara Democratic Party (ADP) and Oromo Democratic Party (ODP) announced on Wednesday that urgent party congress unanimously approved merger with Prosperity Party (PP) which is to be officially formed in the weeks to come.
The 12th urgent congress of Amhara Democratic Party (ADP) was held in Bahir Dar, the region’s capital. According to a report by DW Amharic, ADP has 1200 congress members and 960 have attended Wednesday’s meeting.
The party said that the new merged party ( Prosperity Party), will have importance to ensure that politics on the basis of hate and deranged narrative, apparently regarding Ethiopia’s history and ethnic Amhara people, does not have institutional base, as reported by state affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate (FBC).
The party also said that it will work focusing on conditions relevant to protect Amhara People long lasting benefits.
Similarly, Oromo Democratic Party (ODP) members have unanimously approved the merger in an emergency party meeting held on Wednesday.
The meeting has been underway since Tuesday in Adama (Nazret). The party’s political organization head, Kassahun Gofee, is cited as saying that the party congress discussed the results of the study conducted on the merits of a single united party.
The party says seeks to continue to struggle for what it calls ‘Oromo freedom and right’ , ‘equality of nations and nationalities’, while ensuring the unity of Ethiopia.
Several other parties working with the ruling coalition have conducted their respective party congress to decide on the merger issue and have mostly decided to join the new party. It means that all these parties will give up their ethnic based party existence.
TPLF, on the other hand, has criticized it as a move to “form a new party in the name of merger.” The executive committee and the central committee of the party has unanimously rejected the merger, and it is up to the party congress now to decide if TPLF will join the new merged party or not – which remains to be seen in the next couple of days.
Ethiopia’s skyrocketing cost of living not just in the capital Addis Ababa but in different parts of the country has become a talking point among Ethiopians for a long time now. And it is not showing a sign of improvement.
Budget and Finance Standing Committee in the Ethiopian House of People’s Representative said on Wednesday that rising inflation is negatively impacting citizens and the country’s economy too.
The Minister for Finance, Ahmed Shide, cited the country’s statistics department and said that the inflation rate for food items was 15.6 percent in September while the rate for other commodities is 13.6 percent.
The fix? He said implementing fiscal policies is a priority plan of action area so as to “stabilize prices.” And what fiscal policy is the minister talking about?
Structural reforms in agencies accountable to the ministry and transferring state-owned “development” agencies to the private sector (privatization) are areas where the government is working on “carefully,” the minister added.
Government strategy in place to arrest soaring food prices, which has become unbearable for millions of citizens, is “purchasing 400 metric tonnes of wheat from abroad.” Wheat is not a staple food for most Ethiopians.
Deputy chair of Budget and Finance Standing committee, Nafekush Dessie, has acknowledged the ministry’s coordination with the relevant departments to decrease the inflation rate during the first quarter of the fiscal year but she did not conceal that there is a limitation, on the part of the finance department apparently, in terms of the search for a durable solution for the rising price inflation.
Ethiopia’s Inflation rate for consumer goods hit 15 percent back in September 2019. Back then, the Ethiopian government admitted that rising inflation is partly a manufactured one related to an orchestrated shortage in the supply and illegal trade.
Members of the ruling coalition, EPRDF, has become a controversial issue for several weeks now.
It is becoming as if it is a showdown between Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) on the one hand and the rest of coalition members and support parties on the other.
TPLF says there is no political and legal ground to form a new party in the name of merging coalition members. The executive committee and central committee of the party has passed decision unanimously “opposing” the merger. Party congress is yet to decide on it. TPLF has even said that “People [ in Tigray] have also the right to decide on it.” Until then the organization is exploiting all opportunities to express its opposition.
Key members of the bigger parties in the coalition, these are parties soon to loose their ethnic based identities, rather seem to think that TPLF has no political or moral ground to criticize the merger.
In an interview with Addis Media Network, Ethiopia’s foreign minister, Gedu Andargachew refutes TPLF position.
“EPRDF has done well in the economic and social areas but had limitations with regards to democracy,” he said.
And the party, he said, has agreed to democratize and change itself during evaluative meetings in the past. And it has also pledged to change. The merger, for Gedu, is in line with past party decision.
Apart from relation with the public, the relation between EPRDF and what it calls support parties was not based on equality and democracy. For example, five ethnic based parties governing their respective ethnic based regional states were only considered as “agar” (support parties) and did not have the right to be part of important decision making process at the national level. Prosperity party, the party to be formed after merger, will end that situation.
For Gedu Andargachew, to oppose the merger agenda is to be at odds with democracy.
Workeneh Gebeyehu is formally confirmed as Executive Secretary of IGAD while Sudan is elected as chairman replacing Ethiopia
IGAD member countries heads of state meeting. Photo credit : FBC
borkena November 29, 2019
The 13th meeting of leaders of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) member countries took place in Addis Ababa on Friday. It happened a day after the 47th regular meeting of ministers which discussed structural issues of the organization, and geopolitical activities in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Area.
Sudan is elected as chairman of the organization, according to a report by state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporation (FBC). Ethiopia was chairing the Horn of African countries Organization.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed reportedly extended gratitude for member countries for putting on their trust in Ethiopia to lead the organization for several years.
He remarked that member countries have been productive in crisis management and conflict resolution in recent years. He also hailed the contribution of member countries for the effort made to foster peace and development work in the region.
Former Ethiopia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Workneh Gebyehu, is officially confirmed as executive secretary replacing Kenya’s Mahboub Maalim.
IGAD was established in 1996 “to succeed the Intergovernmental Authority on Drought and Development that was founded in 1986 to deal with issues related to drought and desertification in the Horn Africa,” according to UNECA report.
Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Uganda are member countries. The organization is headquartered in the Republic of Djibouti.
