With more than 80 nationalities and ethnic groups, Ethiopia's political landscape is dominated by tribal allegiances. Paradoxically, since Abiy came to power in April 2018 and ushered in reforms, the opening up of the political space and loosening of state controls have reignited long-simmering ethnic conflicts. In Ethiopia's south, unresolved grievances between the Oromo, the largest ethnic group in the country, and ethnic Somalis over land and borders has caused a conflict there to flare up again. After decades of exile in Eritrea, several opposition leaders were invited back to Ethiopia in 2018 as part of Abiy's political opening. Ethiopia's history of strongmenThe question some Ethiopians are asking is: If Abiy's "democratic tolerance" dries out, will he return to the strongman tactics of the country's past?

Source: Ethiopian News January 11, 2019 14:00 UTC