Reform
Ethiopia Continues its Path of Reforms Amidst Challenges Ethiopia has shifted its focus towards its main agenda of continuing its reform process, while at the same time re-building the region of Tigray.
Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed. Photo credit: - Office of the Prime Minister - Ethiopia A group of reformists led by Dr. Abiy Ahmed came to the helm of power in April 2018, ushering in a new era of political and economic liberalization and opening up, amidst growing grievances about political, economic, and social inequality. On the political front, crucial measures of reform have been taken to set a stage for long term political solutions to peoples’ grievances and demands. Right at the beginning of the reform process, tens of thousands of prisoners were released while political opponents both at home and abroad that were prohibited to practice politics in the country were allowed to join the democratization process. Repressive laws such as the Anti-terror Law and the Civil Societies Organizations Law that undermined the human and democratic rights of citizens were reformed. Furthermore, institutions that are considered as the pillars of democracy such as the Election Board, the Human Rights Commission and the justice system went through extensive reforms to ensure the well-functioning of the institutions and independence in carrying out their constitutional mandates. In the economic front, even if Ethiopia had been registering double-digit economic growth for a decade and half, unemployment, high inflation rate, as well as growing income disparity have been the Achilles-heel
10 The Ethiopian Messenger
of the Ethiopian economy, causing severe macro-economic imbalances and debt stress. Thus, the economic reform emphasis is among others, on reducing youth unemployment, creating a favorable environment for the private sector as well as addressing structural challenges to the economy. To this end, a Homegrown Economic Reform agenda was drawn which led to the newly unveiled 10-year economic growth plan (2020/21-2029/30). The plan envisages to sustain the country’s high growth trajectory and position Ethiopia as an African Beacon of Prosperity. The economic reform has achieved commendable results by restructuring the debt burden, inviting the private sector to have a strong role in the economy and adding to the focus of the economy sectors such as ICT, tourism, and mining. In our sub region, the new leadership rekindled the already strong role that Ethiopia played in the Horn of Africa. In this regard, the Prime Minister’s initiative to end the two decades old “no-war, no-peace” situation with Eritrea has received paramount global applause and recognition due to its significant effect on the stabilization of the region. The world honored the Prime Minister’s initiative by crowning him with the most prestigious global award, the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019. It goes without saying that for any reform process to succeed, it will re-
