This archive report was first published on 9 November 2019.
Published on November 9, 2019, Ethiopia is in a state of transition, with elections scheduled for May 2020. However, the registration of political parties has been a slow process, fuelling tensions in the country.
Opposition parties have objected to new registration rules, which require a national political party to collect 10,000 signatures, up from 1,500, and regional parties to get 4,000 signatures, up from 750.
Three of the nine states—Tigray, Somali, and Oromia—are demanding greater autonomy, as the Constitution provides for self-determination.
On Sunday, over 86 people were reported killed in violence in Oromia and Harari states, and Dire Dawa city administration.
Analysts say that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who came to power in April 2018, promised more reforms than he could deliver in the short term.
"The volatile political situation is due to transition as the government tries to move away from tight political control and suppression and the security forces are reluctant to use force. At the same time they are stretched because of the many conflicts across the country," said William Davison, a senior analyst on Ethiopia at the International Crisis Group.
During his inauguration, Dr Abiy promised wide-ranging reforms, stating, "Democracy is unthinkable without freedom...We need to respect all human and democratic rights, especially to free expression, assembly and organisation, by upholding the Constitution that emerged from this understanding of freedom."
However, change is slow, and the PM is generally seen as not acting strongly against the killings.
"Ethiopian democracy is a work in progress. People do not know that they have responsibility as they exercise their newly found democratic rights," said Ethiopian ambassador to Kenya Meles Alem Tikea.
Dr Abiy has, however, done well by opening up the political and democratic space, releasing political prisoners, unbanning organisations that were designated as "terrorists," and restoring relations with Eritrea. He won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.
