Ethiopia signals move to multi-party democracy amid a wave of reforms
ETHIOPIA must pursue multi-party democracy, Abiy Ahmed’s chief of staff said yesterday, signalling the latest in a series of momentous reforms.
Mr Abiy, the prime minister, was meeting national and regional parties yesterday when Fitsum Arega, his chief of staff, said in a tweet: “PM Abiy concluded: Given our current politics, there is no option except pursuing a multi-party democracy supported by strong institutions that respect human rights and rule of law.”
He added that the parties had appreciated Mr Abiy’s reforms and also wanted changes to electoral laws.
Although opposition parties are permitted in Ethiopia, all parliamentary seats are held by the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). Since Mr Abiy came to power in April, his reforms have included freeing political prisoners, diluting state control of the economy and making peace with neighbouring Eritrea. The government this month lifted a ban on opposition groups that were considered terrorist groups.
Any further steps to strengthen the country’s democracy would be likely to make elections, due in 2020, more competitive.
The ruling coalition swept the 2015 vote but the opposition had been weakened by restrictive laws and repression. Security forces had killed hundreds in three years of unrest since then, before Mr Abiy won the EPRDF’S first ever contested leadership vote.