The series of unrest and conflict that rocked various parts of the country for three years paused almost a year ago with the coming of a new administration led by Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed. Dr. Abiy’s administration was able to put in place peace and stability in the country by taking addressing the questions of the public.
Accordingly, the administration has been implementing various reforms that are believed to respond to the long time quest of the public. The people have also responded positively to the government’s reform actions through demonstrations and public gatherings. Yet the public have also continued to peacefully express grievances and other problems they face for which they need solutions.
However a little after the change, conflicts have been flaring up sporadically in parts of the country. The causes for the conflicts are fake information releases by some individuals or groups with ill intents, failure of administrative authorities to timely and appropriately address the quest of people in tier respective regions, among others.
The executive committee of the ruling party Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) has held an urgent evaluation meeting recently where it passed decision to take action that can ensure peace and stability of the nation.
One of the reform areas is the security apparatus, which is mandatory to ensure peace and stability of the nation. Indeed the decision is timely and important, as it is mandatory to ensure furtherance of the ongoing change in the country.
As the committee stressed the government should work hard to fend off the unrest that flare up in some part of the country as a result of failure of administrative authorities to properly discharge their responsibilities.
In addition, the role of some social media has been immense in spreading fake news related to sensitive issues which lead people to conflict. Up until the government enacts the necessary legal provision to control the destructive works of such social media, it is mandatory to sensitize the public to beware of such dangerous activities and their intentions through available media and public events.
On top of all these actions that the central committee prioritized it is also important to mobilize the public towards discharging their share in safeguarding the peace and stability of their respective residences. Just as the government effectively motivated the public to engage actively in cleaning their surroundings it is also likely to be effective if the government keeps similar motivational work in securing areas.
Especially there is a need to mobilize the public to engage actively in the prevention of conflict by exposing those who spread destructive information, those who engage in arms trafficking or causing property damages.
The Ethiopian Herald May 18/ 2019
