Unrest in Ethiopia: plus ça change?

Popular discontent with the rule of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) became highly visible during protracted, large-scale protests in the country throughout 2016. This matters domestically, as well as internationally because Ethiopia is a major regional power and plays a significant peacekeeping role in the Horn of Africa. It also hosts about 820,000 refugees, mostly from South Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia – of the latter two countries, respectively 59,512 and 19,701 people made their way to Europe in 2015/2016.

While the EPRDF’s political response to the protests should be cautiously welcomed, so far it represents change within – not of – the parameters of how the country is run. The centralised and developmental-patrimonial character of rule in Ethiopia suggests that far-reaching political change is unlikely as long as the EPRDF remains united.

• Primary Source

EU: EEAS: Relations between Ethopia and the European Union https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/1186/ethiopia-and-eu_en

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