Ayele Lire Jijamo
Minister plenipotentiary at the Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Brussels, Belgium
While we appreciate the interest a media outlet like POLITICO has taken in developments in our country, we regret the hyperbolic and inaccurate assertions made in the article “Ethiopia’s PM Abiy Ahmed loses his shine” (September 25).
Firstly, the headline gives readers the wrong impression regarding the standing of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in his own country. According to a recent survey by Afrobarometer, a reputable pan-African think tank, a majority of Ethiopians trust in the prime minister’s vision and leadership.
Secondly, while the piece accuses the government of failing to maintain peace and security, it also blames the government for bringing wrongdoers to justice and portrays efforts to do so as stifling dissent.
The government is indeed having to strike a difficult balance as it tries to rein in unchecked anarchism in the name of democracy. It faces criticism no matter what it does: When it opens up the political space and tolerates the extreme views and actions of the opposition, it is attacked for not maintaining law and order. When it arrests those people involved in criminal and terrorist acts, it is accused of stifling dissent and opposition.
The Ethiopian government remains committed to political and economic reform and change. This will be done in parallel with maintaining law and order. We are under no illusion that this will be a smooth ride. Still, the government intends to build a democratic, stable and prosperous country for all Ethiopians irrespective of their ethnicity, religion and gender.
Thirdly, we were surprised to see that the article quoted Kjetil Tronvoll, a professor who was asked to leave the country over his activities in Tigray. Tronvoll’s allegation that “the government is relapsing to authoritarian practices” is false. National elections were postponed due to the unprecedented challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic. This was done in a way that respects and upholds the constitution of the country.
Elections will be held in the next year, in accordance with the guidance of the health ministry. The government is working to make sure these elections are conducted in a free, fair and democratic manner. It is also putting place the necessary health measures to make sure they can take place safely.
We appreciate the support of our partners and international media as we undertake reforms. We know that the success of Ethiopia is critical not only to our people but also to the wider region and beyond. That is why we urge journalists to present a balanced and accurate account of the facts on the ground.