This would mean incorporating the opposition—that was preparing to challenge Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed in August—into some sort of government of national unity. The constitution allows the government to invoke a nationwide state of emergency to deal with epidemics. Dr Abiy should heed their calls, and then work with them to tackle longer-term threats to the country’s democratic transition. Dr Abiy took over in April 2018 after sustained protests against ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) forced his predecessor, Hailemariam Desalegn, to resign. Rival regional, ethnic and political factions have clashed over ideology, power and resources since Dr Abiy took over, killing thousands of people and displacing more than three million.

Source: Ethiopian News April 19, 2020 07:41 UTC