Mail & Guardian: Ethiopia’s Crisis

Ethiopia is Africa’s second most populous country after Nigeria and could soon overtake Kenya as East Africa’s largest economy. But the country is in political crisis with protests, violence by security forces, and the media under censorship. “The international NGOs and think-tanks that operate in Ethiopia are complicit in maintaining the veil of silence. Many agree to refrain from any criticism of the Ethiopian regime in exchange for unfettered access to the African Union, which is based in Addis Ababa,” reports Simon Allison. “Others turn a blind eye to the government’s routine human rights abuses because of its relatively good record on delivering socioeconomic development.” Ethiopia operates under a state of emergency since the resignation of the prime minister on February 15. In turn, the crackdown enhances support for political opposition, as warned by the US embassy. Allison describes the protests and the political parties built around ethnic groups, including the marginalized Ooromos, who represent about 35 percent of the population. – YaleGlobal