Months of protests are rattling a fragile federation ADDIS ABABA | From the print edition E AN OUTBREAK of public protest unprecedented in its duration and spread since the ruling party took power in Ethiopia in 1991 is stirring a rare cocktail of discontent. Demonstrations started in November mainly by members of the Oromo ethnic group,…
The East African country is facing its biggest protest movement in decades. Its uncompromising approach to development is to blame. BY JACEY FORTIN, FP ADAMA, Ethiopia — For those who would speak frankly about politics in this landlocked East African country, the first challenge is to find a safe space. But on a recent evening in…
By Yohannes Woldemariam Associate Professor of International Relations and Environmental Studies at Fort Lewis College The Ethiopian government is now faced with unprecedented rebellion from the Oromo ethnic group, consisting 35% of the Ethiopia’s population, which it disingenuously claims is inspired by terrorism. The immediate pretext is the Addis Ababa Master Plan encroaching and displacing…
By Daniel Teferra (PhD)* In his article ” Famine ” in Ethiopia,: Key Facts, René Lefort says that land privatization is worse for the poorest farmers. This argument may support the government, but not the farmers. René Lefort starts out with Amartya Sen’s exchange entitlements thesis. He states that in bad years, Ethiopian farmers “face…