Ethiopia's elections

Forget about democracy

The chances of a fair vote in the coming election are fast receding

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This is one country where you see modern buildings being erected in every hook and corner of Adis ababa, yet the people continue to starve. You simply do not see an end to poverty or even the begining of an end to it . The economic policy of Ethiopia is a real mess. In fact it remains closed. Yet it is a country with enormous potential.If the current Govt holds on to power and it will it so appears, the future of the country will remain bleak.

The US policy has always been to support Govts that in one way or the other help the US to promote its interest. Ethiopia is doing just that by keeping at bay somali extremists. So from that perspective Mr Zenawi is not a problem even if he is a dirty dictator. That`s double standard at it`s best.


The Economist said it itself, Ethiopia is one of the poorest nations and it cannot feed itself. The New York times once said that Ethiopia could be the breadbasket for most of Europe if her agriculture were better organized, well here is where our tax money should go. Zenawi is abusing his citizens and the US aid keeps coming. If he really is the best thing for Ethiopia, then the billions or dollars should be improving infrastructure and agriculture. Ethiopia is one of the poorest nations yet has one of the highest growth potential for non-oil-dependent African nations.

Ethiopia left their socialist ways in 1991, but democracy has yet to set it.


we all know that meles is an agent of western intelligent. meles does not have the mean or the brain to stay in power until now if it wasn't for western protection. This election just like the previous one will come and pass and meles will still be in power regardless of the people's choice. Real change will come not by election but by popular struggle.Lately the western intelligences are working hard to show meles as a choice for ethiopia via the western medias. But No matter what the western medias said about meles and ethiopia, we all know that ethiopia has been receiving over two billion per year in aid for last 18 years and still ethiopia is the poorest country in the world.Thank to meles, Ethiopia is the only country after Haiti that beg for food aid to feed its people. This is the benefits of been a puppet regime. Unlike ethiopia, Eritrea with small resources and no foreign aid has manage to impliment self reliances policy and has shown an immpressive economic growth. To the true nature of western powers, self reliance has become a crime. As result the so called super power of our time has level eritrea as bad example to Africa and threatn to punish eritrea. A tale of two countries, one with hope and bright future to its people and one that failed its people.


I have worked In East Africa. HERE ARE FEW LONG FACTS....

1-There are few Al- qaeda related incidents here and there(Perhaps the same number of incidents as UK) but generally its not strong enough to keep on pampering Ethiopia. I think the PM is using Famine before and now terrorism as a hostage for survival. The latest trend for the PM is climate change. And is capable of creating any evidence.

2- VOA ISSUE- what scares me more than the jamming is the language he uses in several occassions " Rwanda" and " Genocide", not so typical of Ethiopia since they passed through so many challenges from famine to war and change of government without civil war.

3-Its true the PM is the only person who can hold the country together,... since he made sure everybody can go if they want to ( in the constitution).

Like WMD and terrorism the West is still getting it wrong! Its worth looking at it properly as its a crucial and potential country in Africa.

Helen lula

The consequences of the 2005 national elections in Ethiopia, particularly its aftermath are still fresh in the minds of the Ethiopian people. Hundreds of Ethiopians were killed; tens of thousands were imprisoned, including journalists of the independent press and the entire leadership of the opposition that defeated Zenawi’s party. Nearly five years after the election, the whereabouts of hundreds of Ethiopians still remains unknown. In spite of testimonies of widespread irregularities and fraud by election observers, reactions from donor countries have either been muted or non- existent directly resulting in emboldening the dictatorship to continue with its unmitigated violation of human rights in Ethiopia. The deafening silence of donor nations and the double standards they followed relative to similar cases in Africa is a disgrace of historic proportion.

Yet again, Zenawi’s regime is preparing for another farcical election. This time the regime has learnt its lessons, and has determined to stifle any political movement that remotely resembles the democratic process of the 2005 electron. In the last five years, the regime has heavily relied on donor support to build and legalize a system that condemns any kind of democratic process that threatens its power. The TPLF regime has gone to the extent of politicizing food aid to the advantage of the ruling party. Between 2005 2010, Zenawi’s regime has enacted three draconian laws to make sure that there will be no political space for opposition parties. The Charities and Societies law that literally kills civic societies in Ethiopia, the Anti-Terrorism Law that sends dissenters to jail and the Media Law that stifles the free expression of ideas are three of the laws that closed the once narrowly opened democratic process. Moreover, recently, in its last minute clean up effort; the regime has even made laws on how international election observers should behave and report the election.

even rudimentary grounds for a free and fair election do not exist in Ethiopia. The planned election is nothing, but a serious mockery of democracy and an insult to anyone who understands the basics of a democratic election. The Election Board, the security forces, the police and the national army have fallen under the exclusive leadership of Meles Zenawi’s ethnic group. As a result, opposition groups in the country are walking on the precipice every day. Their candidates are harassed and imprisoned; and they are not allowed to hold public meetings, demonstrations, or address their constituents.

Zenawi’s regime is in the election business only for the blessing of the international community and its continued financial support. By now, it is clear that the only reason the regime refused to invite the two credible election observation organizations from the United States [the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the International Republican Institute (RNI)], is an indication that the regime is looking for accomplices that would whitewash its fraudulent actions.

this unmitigated support by the donors to Meles Zenawi is a recipe for growing instability in Ethiopia and in the region at large. More and more Ethiopians are feeling marginalized and resenting the barbarism of the regime and deciding to secure their freedom by all means necessary.

I urge supporters of the regime, particularly, donor countries and democratic institutions around the world to review political conditions in Ethiopia and make an informed decision whether Ethiopia is ready to hold democratic election that deserves international observation. We strongly believe that the decision of the Carter Center not to send election observers is based on this understanding. The European Union whose Election Observation Mission was degraded ridiculed by Zenawi’s regime for simply stating the truth of the 2005 election. I believes that it would be a huge and humiliating mistake if EU decides to involve itself in observing the current election where the fraud has already progressed beyond repair before any votes are cast. All in all, providing a cover and legitimacy for this farcical election in any form is tantamount to supporting the on going human rights abuse and ethnic discrimination in Ethiopia.

Once more, I appeal to all community of nations, donor countries and international institutions who stand for peace, freedom and democracy to speak out and denounce the crimes being committed against the Ethiopian people and stop supporting a criminal regime that, if not stopped, will be a major source of instability and human suffering not only in Ethiopia but also in the larger Horn of Africa Region.


Meles is a shrewd political player and has a lot of contempt to his people.He tries to seize some opportunities to impress his masters in America and the EU by paying lip-service to issues like democracy,economic growth,climate change...attempts to deflect attention from what is unfolding in the country.People here are too busy fending off hunger to be concerned by climate change as meles pretends.It is sad, though, to know that some of his pretensious rhetoric win him some converts. Only Ethiopians know that he never gives the same answer to the same question if asked by a western media and the local ones. HE IS MASTER CHEATER.


Despite some of the subtle sympathy that the Economist seems to have to one of Africa's brutal dictators, it remains the only credible international medium that is very well aware of Meles's tactics. In the end all this reporting and revelations of shocking human right violations will do little for the poor and oppressed Ethiopians. This things become like a fad-they are rapidly forgotten and Meles knows this all too well and he keeps on tightening his absolute grip on the lives of the people. Hell to America and the UK-a bunch of pretenders!!


After having read this article. I saw a tinge of 'hatred' in it. I am afraid The Economist will be "jammed" in Ethiopia. This article and a few other recent writings on Ethiopia copies "the worst practices medias such as Radio Mille Collines of Rwanda in its wanton disregard for minimum ethics ... and engaging in destabilising propaganda."

I am laughing hysterically. Zenawi is a joke. His lies are never ending yet people call him an "ally".... ally my as*


I visited Ethiopia a few weeks ago and I observed that the government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi is controlling the country at the county (Kebele) region.
If one has to secure a civil service job or to join the state universities to pursue a masters or PhD level education, he/she needs to be a member of the TPLF party.
Citizens join the party to win their daily breads not out of their interest or commitment to join the party.
The rulling elites stash billions of dollars on foreign counrties whien the majority of the population live in destitution.

Kidu MechXXX

I always wonder why you western medias tend to declare Ethiopia as the worst country on earth. we are the one living here and we deeply know what is going on here not you and those Ethiopian immigrants in US who consider themselves as an ethiopian icon.
And i am extremely amazed to hear Meles called a tyrant and dictator... I doubt if there is any better option for Ethiopia than him. He really has changed the country from entirely poor state to the ninth largest economy in Africa. This is a fact!!!
Besides, unlike others i don't expect perfect democracy in Ethiopia over night. I believe it is a process.


Birtukan is in jail. meles put her in jail just like gambling man hide determinant card for bad time. My God, she is perceived as reserve for his psycho-drama . the world is not fair, i know.


Aid has helped to erase the concept of 'no taxation without representation' from Ethiopia. Due to that and other sophisticated economic mechanisms the middle class is forced to fled the country or is in great restriction - and Mr. Meles seem to enjoy that. It is a country where you have to watch your back for having a good investment ideas. One of their cronies will come out with it with in the given wait period from investment agencies.
Local business are discouraged and the Chinese and others are encouraged for fear of political consequences. It is ironic Mr Meles told local shoe manufacturers to lay off their employees and close their business Ms Clinton wore one of Ethiopian made shoes in her Nairobi visit.
Thanks to our fore fathers who kept us from colonialism, corruption and stealing was seen as shame. The trend is changing and it's becoming a "game" now.

There will be no viable government on subsistent foreign aid. That includes irrisponsible foreign investment. 'Growth' in the wrong direction has greater consequences to the society.


Mr. Gordon Brown cancelled the EU-African meeting held in Portugal last year due to the presence of Mr. Mugabe in the meeting. Imagine, Mr Brown could attend the meeting and not to talk Mr Mugabe. Second he was not the one who hosted the meeting. But he did not want to be in some radius with the Zimbabwe dictator. The same Mr Brown invited Meles in G7 meeting and rub his shoulder with Mr Zenawi, by far the worest dictator than Mr Mugabe. Now he has planned to co-chair a meeting with Meles on climate chnage. The same Mr. Brown who freezes aid to Zimbabwe, keeps writing blank checks to Mr Zenawi. Mr Brown is more sympathatic to Ethiopian than Zimbabwean. When he asked to freeze the accounts of Mr Zenawi, he is telling us the Ethiopian people will die and the country will be splitted. But when he impose humaniterian aid on Zimbabwean, he thinks he is only affecting Mugabe. That is the hypocracy of UK. The same was done by Mr Blair, who hailed Meles by nominating as UK-African commission member.


We live in a period when things are vague until history judges what one does. Not defending what Mr. Meles does and not withstanding his aggressive behavior in quelling dissent, it should be clear by now that he is following what he calls a revolutionary democracy. The fact that there is democracy associated with revolution proves that the routes he follows are not necessarily democracy as we know it. One may ask why then is he facilitating an election. If we followed what the Chinese premier said about Chinese democracy(China knows they are way behind true democracy and they also very well know it is going to take long to get there.), then we will realize Meles' intentions. This is called understanding what works for a particular country with typical realities on the ground. I am by no means saying I know what is right for Ethiopia. Nor do I think the opponents of Meles' regime know what is good for Ethiopia. But I can tell you; other than the way he has been handling the case of Ms. Birtukan and a few other cases, it is hard to say my way or no way.


The Economist is reluctant to speak the truth with respect to the Ethiopian situation. They always shy to speak the fact. That's why MR. Meles has said recently, the Economist is his only magazine he reads always. Prime Minster Meles Zenawi has many personalities which the westerns (specially the UK) do not want to know and the economist do not want to expose. Mr Zenawi always swear in the name of Democracy whenever he meets the westerns while the fact is different. While the fact is shows he is creating tension among the Ethiopian people across the ethnic line for his political power, the Economist and the UK are preaching us the country will split if Meles is not in power. It is being naive to think the economist does not know the fact that Meles is establishing ethnic apartheid in the country. Meles is a person who after ordering his security people to kill then he establishes an investigation committee from his royals. He makes the people of Ethiopia not to trust the role of court. Meles who is the darling son of Mr Blair and Mr Brown is more tyrant than Mr Mugabe. But for the Economist and UK, he is the only African to be trusted. Ethiopia always stretch its hand to God and expects justice from its God.


The Economist,

your reports on Ethiopia always seems to be pro Meles.You calim that he is the only one that can contain Ethiopia together.Actually Meles is the one who is leading the country into the pit.The ethnic division Meles fueling is inciting conflicts and divisions in the country.Please understand the dangerous the country is facing under Meles.Meles will not stability force in the region for he has lost legitmacy at home and in the neighbouing countries.PLease,Please,please help us to be free from dictatorship by reporting the truth.


What is going on in Ethiopia is really unheard of!

How come an election will be held while the main opposition leader is kept in jail? Regardless of the help the Zenawi government may or may not provide to the U.S. in its fight against terrorism, the Obama administration should stop supporting this tyranny until all political prisoners are freed!


What a world order we live in !!!! The US and UK enforce economic sanctions against Zimbabwe where as they don't do anything concrete to pressure the tyrant "Meles Zenawi" to respect human rights and freedom in Ethiopia. He can kill, torture, imprison people as he wishes. He is the one who is running the court, the police, the military, etc. It is very shameful for western leaders to dine and wine with a dictator who has got the worst human rights record in Africa.



What a good article.It stuns me how those groups that support Zenawi are adamant and bluntly support him.Ya in fact they benefit from his stay.
This artcle really tells the whole secenarion in that country that is still being tactically lead by tricky and language-smart thugs like Zenawi who created a One Ethnic(Tigrean)led nation.He should be blamed for his tribalism/Hutu-Tutsi like rule.

Economist, should further find out about the money we are sending to this country-which most media are saying is being politicized.



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