Hope is felt everywhere on the streets of Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa. For a year, new Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali is now in office, and many here celebrate him like a pop star. „He is a good man and brings us change,“ says Jember Zeleke. „That’s why I call him a prophet.“ Emberet Sete adds: „Because of Abiy there is now good luck in our country“. And on the street you could finally say your opinion freely, even about politics and politicians.
U-turn in Ethiopia
Abiy Ahmed – he stands for a turnaround in Ethiopian politics. The country has been governed for more than 25 years by the Revolutionary Democratic Front of the Ethiopian Peoples (EPRDF), a coalition of four parties. Human rights were often trampled on by this coalition. Abiy Ahmed also comes from this coalition. A year ago, he came to power and surprised the entire African continent with his reform course.
Radical reforms
The 42-year-old made peace with the archenemy Eritrea and released political prisoners. He fought corruption in the country, occupied half of his cabinet with women and made an opposition to the chair of the Electoral Commission. „He was an insider, a military member of the Intelligence Service, considered a safe choice, and no one expected him to make such radical reforms in such a strong and indomitable state in no time,“ said Rashid Abdi, East Africa Director of the International Crisis Group. So much change does not suit everyone in the country.
At one of his rallies, an attack was committed, last October soldiers stormed his official residence. The premier did push-ups with them, could avert the coup attempt.
Still economic and social problems
And that is not the only reason why it is far from decided whether Ahmed will remain successful in the end. Especially the young people in the country are skeptical about whether he can really deliver.
Maeze Mohamed is careful with her judgment. The young teacher was active in the opposition and was repeatedly arrested during demonstrations against the old regime. „Now I do not have to go out on the street, I do not have to demonstrate,“ she says. The political situation has changed, but there are still economic difficulties and social problems. The young people would not have enough work. Although the economy in Ethiopia is growing by almost eight percent this year, many young people are urgently looking for a job. The pace of reform is also risky, says Abdi: „The Prime Minister has raised high expectations, and if you have millions of young people and give them hope, and you can not deliver it, then it will cause you trouble.“
More than 80 ethnic groups
In addition, Ethiopia is a very diverse country. More than 80 different ethnic groups live here. „When Abiy Ahmed came to power, the lid opened, so to speak,“ says Abdi. „All the ethnic tensions broke open, they are not new, but they have come to the surface now.“ Almost three million people have been displaced throughout the country as a result of conflicts.
Amina Yuya Hassen belongs to the ethnic group Oromo. About ten months ago, their city in the east of the country was attacked by Somali tribes. „Children were thrown into the river, killing pregnant women, many were beaten, with sticks that had nails on them, and the blood flowed in the streets like water,“ she says. She made it to a camp with her children. The government has set up corrugated ironworks for them. 550 people live in the camp, they only have five toilets. People have no work, food is scarce. Ahmed is well aware of the critical situation. One million internally displaced people will soon be able to return home, he said late last week. It is shameful that this happens in times of change.
live in poverty
Hassen hopes that this will soon apply to her and her children as well. „I live in poverty, my children are not getting a good education here, shoes and clothes are missing, I can not even buy soap, and that’s not just my problem, I’m sharing it with all the displaced people,“ she says. Very slowly Hassen walks out of patience with her Prime Minister. But she still hopes that Ahmed can support her and lead Ethiopia into a stable democracy.
