BY YESUF ENDRIS
The right to self-administration is the fundamental rights of nations, nationalities and peoples of the country. The constitution of Ethiopia despite being center of controversies on the essence of self-determination and federal arrangement also grants this very right to the people. However, the former administration had failed to respond to the constitutional demands of certain ethnic groups ignoring the demands of the people.
But, the new administration that came in 2018 had begun hearing the demands of the people and staged one of the democratic referendums in the history of the country as Sidama became the tenth regional state one year ago after decades struggle for statehood. The first year anniversary of the formation of the regional state has colorfully been celebrated lately.
Accommodating diversity and self-rule have in fact been one of the daunting tasks the country has been faced with.
In the first year anniversary of the Sidama statehood, which was held lately, government officials from the federal and regional states have vowed to build genuine federalism as ethnic tensions unfolded in many parts of the country.
Ethiopia in general and Southern Ethiopia in particular comprise diverse ethnic groups and the government is working in this regard to boost multinational federalism. Speaking on the commencement of the first year anniversary of the formation of Sidama State, officials have promised minorities and other ethnic groups to be treated with no difference.
Adem Farah, Speaker of the House of Federation, has also said that the constitution has endorsed all ethnic groups to have equal rights.
“The formation of Sidama state is realized through referendum; thus it is one of the showcases that the government is employing democratic approaches to respond to public inquiries, he noted. He also further stated that all regional states should take care of ethnic minorities.
Building national integrity will be a priority as the previous administration had destroyed the common values of the people of Ethiopia, he said.
The constitutional federal system of Ethiopia is being implemented in a way that can bring a unity with diversity, he stated.
Accordingly, the reform made by the government is meant to accommodate diversity regardless of ethnic group, religion and other lines, he said. Previously, the implementation of the federal system did not give due attention to national unity, it mostly focused on differences, he said.
Ever since the formation of Sidama regional state, the administration has repeatedly assured that ethnic minorities will be treated equally and protected.
Desta Ledamo, President of Sidama state has also said that the public demands have grew more lauder and clearer as the people’s trust the government’s reform. The Sidama people are one of them. In fact, the people of Ethiopia have had a great role in supporting the cause of Sidama people and statehood.
As the regional administration is on formation, we are strictly working in cooperation with all neighboring as regions as well as all ethnicities living in the region,” he noted.
In his congratulations speech to the people of Sidama, Oromia Regional State Administrator Shimelis Abdisa also said that all the multinational features of Ethiopia need to be embraced and integration among the people must be integrated.
“It is facts that Sidama Regional state will support Ethiopia’s values to defend all odds directed against Ethiopians,” he said.
Numbers of politicians argue that the country’s ethnic federalism as ‘tool of disintegration” even though some parties argued that the system by its nature is not problematic. Meanwhile, most of political experts have comparable idea that the implementation has sown disputes among ethnicities.
The ethnic federalism which Ethiopia adopted in 1995 also has been a center of debate since its formation. In fact, Ethiopia has been marred by ethnic tensions in the past years though many agreed that the implementation of the system is the problem.
A lecturer of Law in Addis Ababa University who preferred anonymity told The Ethiopian Herald that Ethiopia has faced threats of disintegration and ethnic tension and other challenges due to the ethnic federalism. “The implementation or the system itself should be investigated as many of livelihoods have been caught in danger,” he said.
The people of Sidama have paid value to form the regional state even though the situation of minorities, not only in Sidama, but also in all corners should be investigated, according to him.
In exclusive interview with The Ethiopian Herald, Jemal Seid, Lecturer of Political Science in Wolkitie University, also said that special considerations should be activated as minorities in several regions of the country are affected because of the ethnic based administration structure.
Federalism is basically used to authorize self-administrations and the Ethiopian constitution is also declares too, he noted.
“I think the case of Sidama is also very constitutional. Because, the people have long aged interest to form regional state and it has been done in parallel with what the constitution declares,” he said.
However he stressed that the formation of new regional states needs special considerations as minorities might be victim of maladministration particularly in ethnic federal arrangement.
“It is obvious that unless an inclusive government is established, I fear that minorities or other ethnic groups will face challenges, he told.”
To him, regional administrations in all parts of the country should reconsider the rights of all citizens besides installing self-rule. Self- administrations have to be a means to strengthen procedures so as to respond public inquiries, not to damage diversity and people to people interaction, he noted.
During the anniversary festival, the people of Sidama also have been seen chanting with slogans promising strong solidarity with all ethnic groups in the country. Individuals who talked to local Media have also displayed their euphoria for being the 10th regional state.
The Ethiopian Herald March 10/2021
