Ethiopia could risk pre-election violence – Report
By Tesfa-alem Tekle
September 6, 2009 (ADDIS ABABA) — A new report released by the International Crisis Group (ICG) has warned of a possible outbreak of violence in Ethiopia’s upcoming national elections unless the country’s leadership improves democratic practices.
The latest report from the International Crisis Group, examines the potential for a violent eruption of conflict in Ethiopia ahead of the June 2010 elections amidst rising ethnic tensions and dissent.
“Without genuine multi-party democracy, the tensions and pressures in Ethiopia’s polities will only grow, greatly increasing the possibility of a violent eruption that would destabilize the country and the region,” it said.
The group further said that while Ethiopia’s ethnic federalism remains being artificial, the international community has ignored or downplayed all these problems that are sharply swelling ethnic tensions in Ethiopia.
“The international community should take Ethiopia’s governance problems much more seriously and adopt a more principled position towards the government,” ICG called.
In the 1990’s, The Ruling, Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Front (EPRDF) led by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, transformed the horn of Africa’s nation into Federal Republic in a bid to improve cohesion but it has increased ethnic polarization in the African nation instead. The report argued.
“Ethnic federalism has not dampened conflict, but rather increased competition amongst groups fighting for land, natural resources, boundaries and government budgets,” ICG said
The report further said that some donors appear to consider food security more important than democracy in Ethiopia, but they neglect the increased ethnic awareness and tensions created by the regionalization policy and their potentially explosive consequences.
“Donors must convince Ethiopia to improve current standards of governance and promote democratic reform or risk future waves of violence and new destabilization in the horn of Africa region,” Daniela Kroslak, Crisis Group’s Deputy Africa Program Director said.
The International Crisis Group (Crisis Group) is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organization covering some 60 crisis-affected countries and territories across four continents, working through field-based analysis and high-level advocacy to prevent and resolve deadly conflict.
OPPOSITION RELUCTANCE TO RUN IN ELECTION
With over 90 legal opposition groups in Ethiopia, preparing to challenge, the ruling EPRDF party, a number of political groups have already began to raise their voice in fears of a violent government crackdown during the electoral period as it has happened in the past.
As the Ethiopian national election only months away to go, major opposition groups are saying that they are uncertain whether to take part or not in the upcoming election.
The Ethiopian government pledged to conduct a peaceful, fair and democratic election; however opposition parties say the government, despite the pledges made, is not ready to conduct a free election.
Some opposition parties told Sudan Tribune that they are already facing “pre-election harassment” and “undemocratic actions” against them.
They are accusing the ruling party of closing their offices, disrupting their public political meetings and intimidating and arresting their members and supporters.
Recently Ethiopia’s former president Dr.Negasso Gidada accused the Ethiopian government of being behind a disruption of an opposition public political meeting in Adama town,of Oromiya region.
Other opposition groups have also accused the ruling party of endorsing a new election law which they said is only applicable to it.
In 2005 post-election violence has left some 180 people killed. But Ethiopian leader, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi now says that the 2005 election was an experience and his country is ready to handle in this election not only riots but also prevent them from happening at all.
(ST)