Ethiopia says outraged by ICG report on federalism

By Tesfa-alem Tekle

September14, 2009 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopia accused the International Crises Group (ICG) of attempting to trigger unrest in its soil by promoting a “policy of violence and unrest” against Ethiopia, Federation council statement said.

The accusation comes after the group recently released a report on the vast nation’s ethnic federalism.

The latest ICG report says that Ethiopia is becoming an authoritarian one-party state, and warned that government policies there could lead to a violent eruption ahead of next year’s elections. The report also faults the international community for downplaying Ethiopia’s weak democracy.

“The report not only is a base less report, way far from the reality on ground but is also politically motivated” said a statement issued by the Federation Council.

The Federation Council, which includes representatives for the different regions, accused the international think tank of promoting opposition agendas.

“ICG clearly as it dictates is promoting the mission of some anti-peace elements, who are dying to see the country turn in to chaos” it said adding “As far as it stands along these forces, the International Crises Group is one among them”

In a similar reaction the ministry of foreign affairs has reacted fiercely to the report accused the ICG of meddling in the international affairs of the country.

“An institution which claims to be working to prevent conflict is interfering in the internal affairs of a country and is playing the role of a conflict instigator,” Wahade Belay, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in statements published in Addis Ababa.

Wahde said it is also questionable and dangerous to why the group chose to release such a report when nation is set to conduct fair and democratic election.

“ICG is now promoting a policy of violence and unrest. It will be held accountable for that” he added.

The report by the International Crisis Group also says that despite its democratic rhetoric, the government of Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi is unwilling to give up power. Moreover, it says the government’s cornerstone policy, known as “ethnic federalism,” has heightened tensions and sparked growing discontent in Ethiopia, with potentially explosive consequences.

The Crisis Group report also has harsh words for Western countries that, it says, consider food security more important than democracy. The United States is the largest single donor of food assistance to Ethiopia, giving hundreds of millions of dollars in aid last year.

The Crisis Group report calls on the international community to take Ethiopia’s governance problems more seriously and adopt a more principled position toward the government of Meles Zenawi.

(ST)