Ethiopian ethnic politics: from noble aspirations of unity to an uneven reality
via The Reporter Ethiopia8 min read
Ethiopian ethnic politics, introduced to address historical inequalities and grant self-determination, has instead deepened internal divisions and prioritized tribal allegiance over merit. The system, implemented in 1995, has made ethnic identity central to politics, resource allocation, and administrative power, fostering mistrust and treating regions as ethnically owned territories. This marginalizes minorities and non-indigenous communities, leading to kin-based administration. The article highlights that skills and talent, as exemplified by Tsegaye Gebremedhin, transcend ethnic boundaries, challenging the notion that opportunities should be restricted by tribal language. This prioritization of narrow ethnic loyalties undermines social cohesion and the “medemer” principle of unity through diversity. The author suggests that reforms balancing local autonomy with national merit standards are needed to bridge these divides, advocating for inter-ethnic integration mechanisms like scholarships, professional rotations, and cultural festivals. The article contrasts this with previous regimes, noting that Emperor Haile Selassie’s monarchy and the Derg regime also struggled with meritocracy, often prioritizing lineage, loyalty, or military affiliation over competence. The EPRDF regime similarly based appointments on ethnic balance and political alignment, with proficiency being a secondary consideration. The author concludes that Ethiopia cannot sustain the detrimental influence of
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Reporter Ethiopia.
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