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A Biy Ahmed, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, has sped up a radical reform agenda that is upsetting politics in this vast, strategically significant African country.
Since taking office in April, Abiy has He electrified Ethiopia with his informal style, charisma and energy, comparing himself to Nelson Mandela, Justin Trudeau, Barack Obama and Mikhail Gorbachev [19659004] who took power following the surprise resignation of his predecessor Haile Mmariam Dessalegn. – has up to now reshuffled his cabinet, dismissed a series of controversial and until then untouchable officials, reached out to hostile neighbors and rivals, lifted bans on websites and other media, has released thousands of political prisoners, ordered partial privatization of and put an end to the state of emergency imposed to quell the generalized unrest.
In recent days, Abiy has sacked the head of the Ethiopian Prison Service after the charges of widespread torture were withdrawn and three opposition groups were removed from his lists of "terrorist" organizations.
"You do not want to exaggerate, but for Ethiopia, a country where everything has been done in a very prescriptive, slow and controlled way. Indeed, these changes are unprecedented, "said Ahmed Soliman, an East Africa policy expert at Chatham House in London." His main task is to meet all the expectations of all. groups in a huge and diverse country. It's impossible, but he's trying to do it with a little bit of enthusiasm. "
Despite forecasts by the International Monetary Fund predicting that Ethiopia would be the fastest growing economy in sub-Saharan Africa in 2018, even the official press has recognized the seriousness of the country.
Journalist Based in Addis Ababa described "the specter of a disaster that weighs on Ethiopia" and called on the new prime minister to "bring the nation back to the brink."
The L & # 39; Ethiopia is facing a serious shortage of currency, only temporarily solved by an injection of money from the UAE.There is growing inequality, a shortage of jobs for a large number of graduates, damage Significant environmental factors, ethnic tensions and a thirst for change
Various groups of interest have come together in recent years to create a powerful wave of discontent – anti-government protests by young people At least 70% of the population is under 30 years old.
"Youth [are] the driving force behind the country's growth.A new model is needed to economically advance Ethiopia by creating more jobs for young people while respecting political rights. and civilians, "said Befeqadu Hailu, a 37-year-old blogger jailed repeatedly for his pro-democracy writings. Abiy is apologized for previous abuses and has promised to put an end to the harbadment.
"I've always lived in fear, but I feel less threatened when I write than before," Hailu said. "It's not just his word … by the time he uttered these words, security personnel have changed to local levels."
But not everyone supports Abiy's efforts. Last month, a grenade was thrown at a rally organized to demonstrate popular support for the reforms of the vast Meskel Square of Addis Ababa, where many tens of thousands of supporters were wearing clothes displaying the Image of the new Prime Minister. Ethiopia. "Two people died and more than 150 were injured in the blast and the stampede that followed.
" Love still wins. To kill others is a defeat. To those who have tried to divide us, I want to tell you that you have not succeeded, "said Abiy in an address shortly after the attack.
Officials said that there had been other efforts to disrupt the rally, including a blackout, a partial closure of the telephone network, at least 30 civilians and nine policemen were arrested.
Abiy took power, there have been "organized attempts to cause economic damage, create inflation and disrupt the delivery of public enterprise services."
One of the culprits could be an extremist in the powerful Ethiopian security services – Abiy replaced the military leaders with civilians and admitted to having committed human rights violations.Another could be a faction opposed to the effort to find peace with Eritrea. [19659003] Strafor, a US-based consulting firm, said the authors of the "amateurish" attack were more likely to come from one of Ethiopia's restive regions. The Ethiopian Revolutionary Democratic People's Front (EPRDF), the rebel coalition that toppled the Derg military regime in 1991, is divided by factional struggles between four ethnic parties as well as a fierce competition between institutions and individuals.
The Tigrayans, an ethnic community centered in northern Ethiopia, make up about 6% of the population, but are generally considered to dominate the political and commercial elite.
Abiy was considered a relative political outsider before being chosen by the EPRDF board. He is the leader of the largest Ethiopian ethnic community, the Oromo, who have complained of decades of economic, cultural and political marginalization.
Born in the west of Ethiopia, Abiy joined the resistance against the Mengistu Haile Mariam regime before adolescence. enlisting in the armed forces, attaining the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He has a doctorate in peace and security studies. After working on Ethiopia's cyberintelligence service, he entered politics eight years ago and quickly rose to the ranks of the Oromo faction of the EPRDF, which historically disagreed with the Tigrayans.
. and mastery of three of the main languages of the country allows the new leader to bridge the gap between communities and sectarians. He also reached out to the women, making an unprecedented mention of his wife and mother in his acceptance speech.
A personal acquaintance described the new prime minister as "always looking toward the future"
. a good listener but with a bit of stubborn attitude toward people who do not deliver, "said Yosef Tiruneh, a communications specialist who worked under Abiy at the Ministry of Science and Technology
Tiruneh, says book shelves on religion, philosophy and science filled Abiy's office. "He is physically active and very well organized … He did not have a secretary because he wanted that his office is accessible. "
Andargachew Tsege, a British citizen suddenly pardoned in May after four years on death row for alleged terrorism charges, said that Abiy was" very intelligent and a fast learner "engaged in democratization.
" Abiy m invited him to meet him two days after my release. We spoke for 90 minutes and many questions were discussed. It was a meeting of minds. According to Tsege, who was kidnapped by the Ethiopian security services while he was in transit in Yemen four years ago, this type of trade means that the autocratic nature of decision-making in Ethiopia still needs to change, even if Abiy uses his new powers to reform.
"The country is still headed by a person and his cabinet," said Tigist Mengistu, an executive in Addis Ababa. "Unfortunately, we have been there for 27 years and we want it to change, which is bad for a country as diverse as Ethiopia," she said.
Supplementary Report of Hadra Ahmed to Addis Ababa
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