FORTUNE+ VIDEO SPONSORED CONTENTS ADVERTORIALS FORTUNE AUDIO Fortune Careers New TRADE AFRICA New

Fortune Logo

From Arat Kilo to Mesqel Square, October 4, 2021, was a busy day. At the former, Parliament opened its first business of the next five years to form a government, while at the latter, tens of thousands of people gathered for a lavish and ornate event. A few hours after Abiy Ahmed (PhD) was sworn in to continue as the Prime Minister, all eyes were on a Mesqel Square that had recently hosted the Mesqel and Irrecha festivities, in that order. Heads of state from East and West Africa, and nearly every top brass of his administration were in attendance.

The recent redevelopment of the most historic public space in the heart of Addis Abeba shows, as does the amount of work and investment that went into making last Monday’s event metaphorically mirror what the Prosperity Party has dubbed Ethiopia’s Addis Me’raf, a new chapter. Behind an imposing stage where the colour yellow dominated, half a dozen heads of state and Prime Minister Abiy gave speeches to a cheering crowd.


“You're the Prime Minister of those that gave you the vote and even those that didn’t give you the vote,” said Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta. “These are all your people.”

The Prime Minister had amplified this sentiment earlier that day.



"I vow to be accountable to the parliament, to carry out the responsibilities bestowed by the country and its people with sincerity, dedication and respect of the laws and regulations," said the Prime Minister after he was sworn-in as the third head of government since the republic was formed in the mid-1990s.

The glamorous celebration in Addis Abeba did not make much mention of the deteriorating political situation in the country, making it one of the most unsafe countries in the world. Abiy’s administration, which formed its cabinet portfolio of 22, is ambitious to see prosperity and peace through, a high order for a country at civil war and rising poverty levels due to escalating cost of living. Even as Ethiopia becomes infamous once again for dislocation, starvation and suffering in the northern part of the country, the Prosperitarians remain confident that their "New Chapter" will be one of hope and plenty.



PUBLISHED ON Oct 09,2021 [ VOL 22 , NO 1119]

[ratemypost]


Related Posts

Editors' Pick

Exclusive Interviews

State Enterprises from Oracles to Apprentices

Dec 22 , 2024 . By TIZITA SHEWAFERAW

Charged with transforming colossal state-owned enterprises into modern and competitiv...

Agenda

Rising Costs, Inflation Threaten Insurance Industry

Aug 18 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO

Although predictable Yonas Zerihun's job in the ride-hailing service is not immune to...

Agenda

BREWING DISCONTENT

Jul 28 , 2024 . By TIZITA SHEWAFERAW

Unhabitual, perhaps too many, Samuel Gebreyohannes, 38, used to occasionally enjoy a couple of beers at breakfast. However, he recently swit...

Fortune News

Electric Vehicle Push Leaves Investors in the Lurch

Jul 13 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO

Investors who rely on tractors, trucks, and field vehicles for commuting, transporting commodities, and f...

Commentaries

Maise Boom Displaces Ethiopia's Native Grains

Nearly three decades ago, the U.S. National Research Council published a landmark ser...

Poverty's Last Mile as Digital Finance Redrawing Inclusion Map

At its most basic level, the goal of economic development is to eradicate poverty. By...

Fineline

Leaders of the National . . .

Leaders of the National Election Board are in a charm offensive mood, of a sort. Last week, they organised a rare tour for members of the me...

When the country’s most. . .

When the country's most senior diplomats and envoys return back to their posts after two-week debriefings, they leave behind a point or two...

Editorial

Media Council's Edging to Accreditation a Deceitful Drift

Mar 30 , 2025

When the private satellite channel, Ethiopian Broadcasting Service (EBS), aired an em...

Preventing War Far Cheaper Than Paying Its Deadly Price

Mar 23 , 2025

Getachew Redda, head of the Tigray Interim Regional Administration (TIRA), at least u...

A Country Governed by Guesswork, While Millions Lost in the Shadows

Mar 16 , 2025

Ask anyone about the population of Addis Abeba, and a straightforward answer proves e...

The GMO Experiment Can Be Harvest of Hope, Not Seed of Trouble

Mar 9 , 2025

Five years ago, 11 non-governmental organisations (NGOs), together with 40 allies acr...

Gallery

Parliament Approves New Cabinet Members

Oct 6 , 2021

Parliament Approves New Cabinet, Incorporates Opposition Leaders Lawmakers have approved today the nominations of 22 ministers, including three opposition leaders. Two MPs have voted against, while 12 abstained...

2020 in Posterity

Jan 5 , 2021

TIGRAY VOTES DESPITE "NULL & VOID" THREAT

Sep 9 , 2020

IN-PICTURE: LAUREATE'S RECEPTION  

Dec 14 , 2019

PM Abiy Ahmed (PhD) at a Gala Dinner Called for the Awarding of the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize

May 6 , 2019

Faces, Voices of Addis Abeba

Apr 26 , 2019

Sunday With Eden

The Cycle of Generosity Coming Full Circle

In a world that often prioritizes individual success, it's easy to overlook the profo...

The Convenience Trap

Over the weekend, I watched a mother I know closely hand her children a bag of chips and packed juice for lunch. She isn't the type to welco...

Life Matters

Natural, Enhanced, or Just Exhausted?

As a woman, navigating the world of beauty and attraction often feels like confronting a maze of contradi...

Shining Light on Small Businesses

The bustling streets of Addis Abeba now carry a heavier weight for business owners. The cost of doing business has been steadily rising, wit...