Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed recently reiterated his administration's commitment to democratic reform, emphasizing that measures taken to expand the political landscape and cultivate a culture of democracy have, on balance, yielded positive results.
Reflecting on the transformative period when his government first came to power, the prime minister described an Ethiopia mired in debt, stalled mega-projects, institutional decay, restrictive laws, and a pervasive divisive narrative. He noted that a fragmented media and political environment further compounded these challenges, necessitating difficult and robust decisions from the government.
Key among these decisive actions, he recalled, was the effort to revitalize major national undertakings like the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which required substantial foreign currency payments to contractors to ensure its continuation.
Critically, PM Abiy highlighted the significant steps taken to broaden the political arena and foster democratic practice, including the release of political prisoners and the facilitated return of competing forces from abroad. He underscored that while these choices brought numerous benefits, they were not without their drawbacks.
In an interview with EBC, the Prime Minister explained that the decision to allow all competing parties to re-enter and participate was crucial for "testing democracy." Drawing an analogy, he stated, "We can tell how good a road is when it is actually open for all cars." This approach, he asserted, provided a vital platform and opportunity for the public to discern "good from bad, productive from destructive."
"The choice was up for the public to pick the party that is better and to drop the one that is not, and that is democracy," PM Abiy affirmed. He acknowledged that while Ethiopia has largely benefited from this inclusive approach.