FORTUNE+ VIDEO SPONSORED CONTENTS ADVERTORIALS FORTUNE AUDIO Fortune Careers TRADE AFRICA Election 2026 New TIME REMAINING UNTIL ETHIOPIA’S NATIONAL ELECTION 0Days 0Hours 0Minutes 0Seconds

Fortune Logo
The result has been a general sense of anxiety by the public over the fate of the country. Ethiopia is on the knife’s-edge!

A developing country like Ethiopia inevitably has many challenges. But nothing poses the greatest risk like the breakdown of order and the rule of law. And not by the law. The monopoly on legitimate violence belongs to the state, but the moment this rule stops to apply, the country begins a steady decline into an abyss from where coming back out in one piece will be hard.


The past two years have seen internal displacements, losses of human lives and the destruction of property, paralleling the promise of democratic transition that has also been taking place on the side. On multiple occasions, regional governments have been unable to contain major threats within their administrative demarcations without the help of the federal army.


The result has been a general sense of anxiety by the public over the fate of the country. Ethiopia is on the knife’s-edge!


Income inequality, political partisanship and poverty are bad and may even be contributing factors to lack of law and order. But the breakdown of the rule of law, where the rights of citizens to move and make a living is curtailed, poses the ultimate existential threat to a state. Citizens, more than a better education system, better standard of living and democratic rights, crave security. A state that cannot provide this is historically doomed to civil war or failure.


PUBLISHED ON Jan 05,2020 [ VOL 20 , NO 1028]

[ratemypost]


Related Posts

[ssba-buttons]

Put your comments here

N.B: A submit button will appear once you fill out all the required fields.

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

Europe Needs the Plot, Ethiopia Needs the Price

Ethiopia has built new eyes for its most valuable export. The question is what it wil...

African Lessons for an Indian Airline Going Through Tough Times

The appointment of Tewolde Gebremariam as chief executive officer (CEO) and managing...

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

Listen to the Poets Before Bulldozers Narrow Addis Abeba's Memory

Aug 14 , 2026

Aschalew Fetene, known as “Ardi” and admired for his poetic depth, has built a ti...

In Going Digital, the State Designs for the Citizen It Wants to Have

Aug 8 , 2026

The World Bank asks readers to picture a mother in rural Ethiopia who has never held...

The Rains May Fail, Policy Dare Not

Jul 31 , 2026

Weldu Yiheysh has not read the Pacific temperature charts. He does not need to. In Shibta District of Enderta Wereda, in...

Cost Recovery by Public Institutions Becomes a Hidden Tax

Jul 25 , 2026

Ideally, citizens who have paid income tax all year should not have to reach for thei...

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 Plate on the Screen Isn't the Plate on the Table

Last week, I listened to Dr Berry Dubiso, a podcast named after an Ethiopian doctor a...

Ten Years at the Gate, a Dream That Never Stood Still

Last Sunday, my family gathered for what was meant to be a simple farewell. There was...

Life Matters

A Body Learns Itself from the Inside

Some experiences resist explanation. One can read volumes, hear them described, or wa...

Children Fall. Some Parents Detonate

As an overprotective mother, I know that sudden and cold knot in the stomach all too...