In 1974 the monarchy of Haile Selassie was
overthrown, following a series of demonstrations and strikes in the towns and land
seizures in the countryside. But the popular demand for democratic government (and
modernization) was thwarted when a clique within the military under the leadership of
Mengistu Hailemariam seized power. Ethiopia was then subjected to 17 years of bloody
repression, war and famine.
Throughout Ethiopia and in Eritrea, people took up arms against the
dictatorship. Of the resistance movements within Ethiopia, the most successful was the
Tigreyan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) which in 1989 joined with other forces to
form the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF).
By May 1991, EPRDF forces had succeeded in toppling the dictatorship, and Mengistu fled
to exile in Zimbabwe, from where the Ethiopian authorities have so far unsuccessfully
sought his extradition on charges of crimes against humanity.
Within a month of the EPRDF victory, a national conference was convened, representing
more than 30 political parties and ethnic groups. The conference adopted a National
Charter, based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and guaranteeing all the
fundamental freedoms, of speech, the press, of association and perhaps most importantly in
the case of Ethiopia, the right of all nationalities to self determination.
Ethiopia has more than 80 ethnic groups, and the lack of national
and cultural freedoms had caused endless conflict, including the
1993).
The conference set up a Transitional Government, to prepare the
country for national elections, which took place in May 1995. A number of opposition
parties, mainly based in the USA among Ethiopian communities there, boycotted these
elections but international observers, representing foreign governments, international
organizations such as the UN, EC and OAU, and various non-governmental organizations,
found them to be free and fair.
Before the elections, a new constitution was drawn up and submitted
to more than 26,000 local councils for discussion and ratification. Under the new
constitution, Ethiopia is a federal republic, consisting of 14 Regions, essentially based
on ethnicity. In southern Ethiopia, Regions 7,8,9,10 and 11, with more than 40 separate
ethnic groups and languages, have combined to form one Region with Amharigna as its
official language.
The Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF)
won most of the seats in the National Parliament, while member or allied parties won
control of regional assemblies. The next elections will be held in 2000. In its program
for government, the EPRDF is giving priority to agriculture, where nearly 90% of
Ethiopians earn their livelihood.
At peace with itself and its neighbors, Ethiopia now has the chance
to devote its energies and talents to development. Food production can be increased
through the extension of irrigated agriculture and the adoption of more efficient farming
methods. There are export markets in the Middle East for Ethiopian fruit, vegetables, meat
and dairy products. There are proven reserves of natural gas and coal, gold, copper,
tantalum, potash, zinc, ironore, nickel and marble. Ethiopia has the largest number of
cattle, sheep and goats in Africa, and is now expanding its leather industry.
Ethiopia only uses a fraction of its potential hydro electric power.
The Blue Nile, which has its source near Lake Tana, contributes to 80% of the main Nile
flow and plans to increase existing power generation are being implemented. In the Oromo
and Afar Regions, projects have started to exploit geo-thermal power.
However, Ethiopia’s immediate prospects while finding its feet
depend on good harvests (which mean good rains) and a good price for its coffee (60% of
foreign currency earnings).
The current government believes that real development can only take
place in a democracy. It has also stressed that democracy cannot be installed by decree,
but is a process which involves the development of a democratic culture and institutions,
in which all citizens must play a part. While the process will take decades, so far the
extension of human, democratic and national rights has been truly revolutionary, and for
the first time in Ethiopia’s long history, a government has been set up which
genuinely represents the regions and Ethiopia’s many ethnic groups. Perhaps alone
among African countries, Ethiopia is acknowledging that it is a multi-cultural and
multi-ethnic society.
