Beneath the latest neat international narrative of a democratizing Ethiopia lies a ruthless struggle among competing domestic plotlines. An ancient nation that defies simple categorization is often distilled into bite-size packages to provide instant hits but no lasting satisfaction. Next, amid the West’s post-Cold War hubris, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s government was presented as part of a new shiny democratic Africa. Last year, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed dismantled an authoritarian order through a wide-ranging amnesty, restructuring security institutions, and prosecuting officials. With this major task undertaken, Abiy was confronted with the monumental challenge of encouraging political expression by starkly opposed elements, while also forging a new democratic consensus.

Source: Ethiopian News April 07, 2019 16:07 UTC