While defending their freedom against foreign powers, Ethiopians have always been struggling with their rulers/leaders to enjoy better rights as citizens.with the growth of modern education coverage in the society, the pressure for change Ethiopians exert on their rulers has become more organized and impactful over the last 60 years.
Since the late 60s, successive generations of Ethiopians have been making demands for the prevalence of equality, social justice, and democracy in the nation.Ethiopians have made several organized political movements and popular revolts to get an appropriate reply to these citizenship demands. Tens of thousands of young Ethiopians from each generation paid the ultimate price in the long arduous struggle against oppressive regimes in their quest to fulfill their rights to equal justice and democracy.
The relentless ideological and armed struggles Ethiopians have been waging against their oppressive rulers have borne fruits of opportunities for change three times since the start of popular resistance in the 60s.
The first opportunity was created following the popular revolt that brought down the imperial regime in 1974. That early opportunity to bring peace democracy and justice in Ethiopia was high jacked by the military Junta, the Derg. Except for its reply to Ethiopians’ cry for “Land to the tiller.”, the Derg has proved oppressive ruler of all people’s demands.
Likewise, after the end of 17 years of totalitarian rule of the Derg, the TPLF led a coalition of rebel groups, EPRDF made false promises that it was time for Ethiopians’ demand for equality and justice would be fulfilled. Of course, it was the EPRDF regime that introduced a constitution that guarantees the rights and equality of all Ethiopian nations and nationalities, and peoples.
However, the EPRDF has given only lip service to much of Ethiopians’ demand for democratic and human rights during its 27 rule. Instead of championing the cause of the people, TPLF becomes a party that consumes the Ethiopian state building a new class of oligarchy. The continued gross violation and muffling of the human rights of citizens has given rise to voices of grievances since 2014. And two years later, the grievances transformed into mass protests and violent street demonstrations across the country that spiraled out of the control of the security apparatus.
Besides the popular protest against the ruling party, there were reformist members of the party itself that identify themselves with the peoples’ demands. These members of EPRDF realized that party was in a semblance of morbidity and did not have the structure, the capacity, mechanisms, and ideology that can accommodate and provide an appropriate reply to the peoples’ demand. And they began an internal struggle within the party to bring a fundamental shift in ideology and leadership.
The internal struggle within EPRDF has resonated with the violent demand for change by the masses and ultimately culminated at the beginning of the reform era in 2018, as Abiy was sworn in as a Prime minister, and the TPLF lost its firm grip on the federal government’s power.
The new Premier did not waste time to start delivering his promise of transition from iron fist rule to democracy by taking several dramatic steps to widen the political space.Among other things, he suspend the state of emergency that was declared twice during the protest years [2016- 2018]. He released thousands of prisoners and allowed exiled political organizations and individuals to return home. He lifted restrictions on the internet and social media.
Almost exactly 20 months after assuming power, Abiy, and his reformist administration established a new party, PP, Prosperity Party, with a mission to fulfill Ethiopians’ long-awaited demand for equality, social justice, respect of human rights, and democracy. PP also envisages bringing prosperity to citizens and to guarantee the multi-national unity of the Ethiopian state.
To realize this goal, PP has devised an unfamiliar strategy different from its predecessors. It has chosen a reform strategy rather than the destructive and costly revolutionary strategy. PP prefers to rectify the gaps in the works of the past and build on them, rather than demolishing and starting from scratch. This is quite advisable for a nation with limited capital and skilled human resources.
PP’s success stories witnessed over the past four years are a testimony to the effectiveness of the party’s strategy and style of leadership. Despite several seemingly insurmountable challenges, the newly established party has been able to score spectacular achievements by rallying the Ethiopians’ support both from home and abroad.
PP’s leadership has successfully asserted Ethiopia’s capacity as a nation capable of defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Under the guidance of the party, Ethiopia has scored both military and diplomatic victories against TPLF and its forging backers. Undeterred by the pressures of the war triggered by the terrorist TLPF and the economic and social impact of the Corona Pandemic, the party has managed to facilitate favorable grounds for holding free fair, and peaceful elections last year.To open up the political space and introduce the new culture of power- sharing, PP, which won the election with a landslide majority, chose to form a new cabinet that include ministers appointed from opposition parties.
Furthermore, the start of test power production of GERD is another feather in PP’s cap. Despite the precarious situation, it has been in 2018, and the continue diplomatic standoff between the tripartite states, the national flagship project has been able to deliver power from a 375-MW turbine in less than four years, marking a significant milestone for the project that could become Africa’s largest hydropower plant.
This week PP would start its first general assembly since its establishment 2 years ago. The gathering is expected to deliberate on past performances and assess the plans. It is expected to focus on setting strategic directives for actions needed to effectively tackle the major socio-economic and political challenges facing the nation.
Top in the list is the issue of peace security and the respect of the rule of law. The belligerence of TPLF is still unchecked. TPLF is still holding the Tigray people hostage using it as a bargaining chip and a tool to advance its politics of cessation and to vindicate itself from facing war crime charges. Despite the government’s several peace initiatives,The TPLF does not seem to be genuinely committed to the peaceful end of the conflict. Armed political extremist groups like Shane are killing civilians and causing the influx of internal IDPs. There are millions of citizens across the country that needs urgent humanitarian aid due to manmade and natural disasters.
The significant spike in domestic inflation, corruption, and unethical practices in the public service should also be a priority in the agenda of deliberation of the PP congress. The other major topic worth due attention for the congress is the mounting interferences and diplomatic pressures of foreign powers. PP would be holding its first congress at a time when the US Congress is likely to deliberate on the most potent bill, HR6600, which would have a huge impact on the people and government of Ethiopia, if passed and signed into law. We hope the PP assembly would devise strategies to back the effort being made to get the bill rejected and to make preparations to minimize the effects of the bill under any eventualities.
Last but not least, PP is expected to democratically elect its leaders, and purge the ones that are not competent and ethical enough to shoulder the lofty responsibility they get from their people to fulfill the longtime aspiration of the Ethiopian people.- building a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic nation. In this regard, PP has already demonstrated its commitment to fight corruption by suspending several of its members alleged to have been involved in corrupt and unethical practices. if the ruling party continues to make such decisive reform measures in time and strengthen grassroots participation, then it would rise above the current challenges to emerge as a prestigious party reputed for championing citizens’ causes.
BY SOLOMON WASSIHUN
WEDNESDAY 9 MARCH 2022
