Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia confers with central committee members of affiliate political organizations operating in Somali, Gambella, Harari, Benishangul Gumz and Afar regions of the country.
“In the discussions with members of affiliate political organizations, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed highlighted the value of changing and growing together in line with the MEDEMER vision,” the PM Offcie twitted.
“He encouraged the participants to nurture and pursue positive visions with focus, committed to personal development, trust, compassion and most importantly exhibiting these positive assets in leading their communities,” it said.
The affiliates parties of the ruling coalition, Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) are the Afar National Democratic Party (ANDP), Benshangul Gumuz People’s Democratic Unity Front (BGPDUF), Gambella People’s Democratic Movement (GPDM), Harari National League (HNL), and Somali Peoples’ Democratic Party (SPDP).
After PM Abiy came to power, there were crisis mainly in the areas controlled by these affiliate parties.
During the previous conferences of EPRDF, there were discussion on how the affiliate parties will become member of the ruling coalition.
According to the recently released report of the International Crisis Group ICG), Factions both inside and outside the EPRDF disagree over how much power should be devolved to federal regions and, as Abiy avoids taking a position, regional leaders jostle for greater autonomy, often under pressure from ethnic hardliners.
In order to address some the major challenges PM Abiy needs to urgently infuse new energy into the state bureaucracy, reach out across the political spectrum to decide on electoral reforms and the nature of federalism, according to ICG.
“Demonstrating that the new government he is leading will work for all and that security forces can protect Ethiopian citizens, regardless of ethnic background, will be critical to this effort… He needs to prepare the ground for holding – or, if necessary, delaying – fast-approaching 2020 elections and start taking the difficult steps necessary to modernize the economy,” the report suggests.
“A successful transition in Ethiopia – putting the country on a path to political openness, inclusion and economic liberalisation – could help transform the Horn of Africa, setting a positive precedent for other transitions that are occurring in the region,” it said.