This archive report was first published on 16 November 2019.
Published on November 16, 2019, Ethiopian media mogul and activist Jawar Mohammed has announced his intention to run in the country's 2020 general election.
Jawar, a key figure in last month's deadly protests in Addis Ababa, has been a vocal critic of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's policies, despite helping to sweep Abiy to power.
"I've not decided which position or which party. What I've decided is to run," Jawar said in a statement, adding that his goal is to ensure the election is free and fair.
As a member of the Oromo ethnic group, Ethiopia's largest, Jawar's decision highlights divisions within the Oromo support base that could complicate Abiy's bid for a five-year term.
According to Jawar, he will have to give up his US citizenship and reclaim Ethiopian citizenship to enter the contest, in which he could run for the Oromia regional parliament or the national assembly.
With over 1.7 million followers on Facebook, Jawar plans to return to Ethiopia within 10 days to start the paperwork needed for his candidacy.
