Radar | Mar 16,2019
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]
Radar | Mar 16,2019
Fortune News | Oct 19,2019
Fortune News | Jan 07,2026
Fortune News | Dec 29,2018
Radar | Jul 27,2025
My Opinion | Jun 15,2019
Radar | Dec 08,2024
Commentaries | Mar 19,2022
Radar | Apr 08,2023
Editorial | Jul 03,2021
Dec 22 , 2024 . By TIZITA SHEWAFERAW
Charged with transforming colossal state-owned enterprises into modern and competitiv...
Aug 18 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO
Although predictable Yonas Zerihun's job in the ride-hailing service is not immune to...
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...
Jul 13 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO
Investors who rely on tractors, trucks, and field vehicles for commuting, transporting commodities, and f...
Jul 4 , 2026
In the goldfields of the Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State, Ethiopia's balance-of-paym...
Jun 27 , 2026
The federal legislative house rushed through one of the country's most contentious ho...
When Parliament takes up the appropriation bill, federal legislators will receive a d...
Jun 13 , 2026
The recent policy decision to fully open freight forwarding to foreign capital may be...