This time, Ethiopia is caught between opportunities and challenges as it rambles through political and economic transitions. Ever since the ongoing reform comes to fore, the country has been able to allow banned political parties to enter the home with critical media also permitted to broadcast from the country. The opening up has liberalized different political interests with some sharply contrasted to each other.
The opening up has brought both blessing and peril, while it strengthened peaceful political discussions-even among politicians that pursue polarized ideas. It also served as a source of chaos and violence in some cases. The extreme confrontations among elite politicians, together with the flaring up of ethnic tensions, are building up fear of violence. That is why lately the crisis group has designated Ethiopia as the world’s 10 conflicts to watch list.
Despite the wide-ranging challenges, the upcoming election will be a defining moment for Ethiopians to embark on a new avenue of democratization. If it does not go peaceful, God forbid that, the country can be pushed into further chaos.
The
country cannot, actually, afford to lose the democratic and peaceful election
as many are pinning hope on it for a successful election would be the beginning
of democratization. Previous elections had been largely lambasted by human
rights groups and advocates of democracy for being uncompetitive and unfair.
Despite very early to see, the government and the ruling have promised to make the upcoming election competitive, democratic and peaceful. And this is the time for civil societies to show their alliance to democracy and citizens. And they can make it real by discharging their role in making the election democratic and peaceful.
Their engagement can be, among others, by deploying efferent election observers or mobilizing the public to vote and exercise their democratic rights. They should also come up with a credible and accurate report regarding the election process as the people deserve nothing but to know the truth!
The Ethiopian Herald, Friday Edition, January 31/2020
BY DESTA GEBREHIWOT
