The Abyss, Closer by the Day

Mar 16 , 2019
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Last Sunday saw tragedy. One-hundred-and-fifty-seven passengers and crew abroad Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 lost their lives after the airplane crashed in Ejere, not too far from the capital. It was a terrible accident where hopes, aspirations and dreams were lost in one fatal swoop.

It was also serves as an allegory for a nation that, in its experiment with multiparty democracy, seems to have failed so soon after takeoff. The only difference, in this case, is that whatever happens, it is doubtful many of us would be surprised by the fatal blow.

The series of events that took place in the first week of this month are in themselves distressing enough. The tensions between the Amhara and Tigray regional states are reaching fever pitch. Symbolic of this was Gedu Andargachew’s resignation and the election of Ambachew Mekonnen (PhD) as president of the Amhara Regional State. It speaks to the precarious situation in the northern part of Ethiopia for such top leadership of a region to change hands while unrest is displacing citizens.

Just as worrying is what is occurring in the SNNPR, where nine zones want to be elevated to regions, and they want it now. It went as far as stopping a meeting by SEPDM, the ruling party of the region, from being held as well as protests in the SNNPR’s capital, Hawassa.

Unlike most other times, even the capital was not spared tension. After winners of a lottery drawing for middle and lower-middle income housing units were announced, it led to protests throughout the Oromia Regional State.

Later on, the Oromia Democratic Party, the region’s incumbent party, stated that the lottery drawing should not have been conducted before matters over administrative demarcations between Addis Abeba and the regional state are cleared up. This was despite Addis Abeba’s Deputy Mayor, Takele Uma, being himself a member of the ODP and after rallies in the regional state were called by activists.

How many of these problems were addressed? Is there at least an effort that seems to have a chance at doing as such?

Not really. There does not seem to be anyone in the driver’s seat or at least a person with the ability to steer this nation from what seems to be a tragic end. Tensions between the Amhara and Tigray regional states continue to simmer, with both sides accusing each other of mobilisation, and without a meaningful hint that the impasse over administrative demarcations will be dealt with peacefully.

It is no different on the southern front of the nation. The nation lacks the institutional capacity to oversee the addition of new regions into the federal state, and yet it does not seem the zones want to wait any longer without having their demands met. They insist that the process for regional statehood should begin now.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) was at least seen to intervene in the Addis Abeba issue. A committee was formed to address the matter of demarcations between the capital and the Oromia Regional State. But the committee formed was made up of members of the current leadership in the Addis Abeba City Administration, which may not command enough legitimacy for residents of the city to believe they will be adeq1uately represented by it.

Frustrated by the daily escalation, some wonder that the seriousness of the challenges, lack of a middle ground and a weak state are enough proof that it is only a matter of time before some calamity occurs. Even Abiy, who used to be so charismatic, is too subdued these days and is commanding less and less of the seemingly universal acceptance he garnered when he first entered office.

Is this an already aborted experiment?

Indeed, other countries have risen out of bigger calamities. However, there needs to be a state that looks out for its citizens, including minorities, and politicians who are grounded and can reach across the aisle. Every day that passes by without these crucial ingredients is a step closer to an abyss whose consequences we can barely imagine.

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PUBLISHED ON Mar 16,2019 [ VOL 19 , NO 985]

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