Ethnic-based Politics in Ethiopia

According to the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia, there are 79 political parties registered under Proclamation No573/2008. Of these, only 29% have country-wide (national) identity whereas 71% are regional parties that are organized around ethnic lines.

Tigray Economics and Ethiopian Politics

During the last two decades, Tigray has occupied the minds of Ethiopians. That EPRDF’s (the Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Party) creator, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), is native to Tigray explains all the discourses. Ordinary conversations, media reports, and developments on the ground all seem to testify that Tigray is being preferentially and positively treated in all fronts.

Asrat Woldeyes & Ethiopian Politics

September 1997. I was in Bichena, the stronghold of the hero Belay Zeleke. My plan was to reach at Addis Ababa University (AAU) for registration as final year undergraduate student. Unfortunately, the scheduled bus failed to appear. Everyday around 6pm, we passengers were supposed to get registered afresh, hoping the bus could come the next day. We did registration six times, that is for six days. My money generously given by my relatives run real fast and I was in shock. But most worrisome was whether I could reach for the registration at AAU. Every passing day seriously touched my nerves. That time, no mobile, no Internet. Was real dark time.

Addis Ababa!

What is Addis Ababa (henceforth Addis) to you? Just answer the question before you proceed to read. And I do not mean to stimulate answers such as: Addis is the capital city of Ethiopia; Addis is home to nearly all the ethnic groups of Ethiopia; it is also the political capital of Africa; it has a population of around five million; Addis has an average temperature of 22-26 degree Celsius. These are yes objective facts that are not hidden from an average person. My question requires answers that are probably unique to you and are value laden.