Weekly Poll: Which form of federalism is better for Ethiopia?

The federalism question is one of the age old questions in Ethiopian politics. Some people in Ethiopia support the pre-1991 regional federalism while others support ethnic federalism. Democracy in the Ethiopian state is itself likely to partially depend on whether a significant majority viewpoint is crafted about a form of federalism government to use in the country: which helps to minimize rebellion, violence and opposition to the state.

According to a research paper about Ethiopia published in 2003, the main opponents of the ideology of ethnic federalism in Ethiopia are classified into four main groups. These four main groups are said to be:

Ethnic Amharas and their organizations
Pro-secession ethnonationalists & groups (i.e. OLF, ONLF)
“Amharized” non-Amharas
Mixed-Ethiopians (or those who have parents of two more different ethnic groups)

Another fifth group of Ethiopians fully support ethnic federalism system in principle but they oppose how the system is implemented by the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) sub-party of the current ruling party in Ethiopia. The opposition parties OFDM and UEDF and their supporters can be categorized into this fifth group.

Today, the question of federalism continues to be one of the main topics inside the Forum (Medrek) for Democratic Dialogue (FDD) opposition alliance which is made up of Oromo People's Congress (OPC) and its United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF), Unity for Democracy and Justice (UDJ) , Arena Tigray for Democracy and Sovereignty (Arena), Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement (OFDM), Ethiopian Democratic Unity Movement (EDUM) and Somali Democratic Alliance Forces (SDAF).

Due to extremely diverse groups being inside the FDD, while the FDD is successfully managing to create common points for its “give and take manifesto,” many Ethiopians are eager to see what the final decision will be on the form of federalism for the country proposed by FDD.

Inside the FDD, the two extreme conflicting sides when it comes to the question of federalism are the UDJ party of Judge Birtukan Mideksa and the OFDM party of Dr. Bulcha Demeksa. The UDJ representatives of FDD reject ethnic federalism completely, while the OFDM representatives of FDD fully support ethnic federalism. In fact, the OFDM says Meles Zenawi’s TPLF party has not yet implemented ethnic federalism at all. OFDM says a majority-led and genuine ethnic federalism is best for Ethiopia. Both Birtukan Mideksa and Bulcha Demeksa are of Oromo descent but, not surprisingly, Birtukan comes from an ethnically mixed family.

In general, the question of federalism is expected to influence Ethiopian politics for many more years to come. In fact, federalism is not only an Ethiopian question, it is also an AFRICAN Question since some analysts from the more democratic African countries, like Kenya and South Africa, have recently indicated that tendencies of ethnic loyalty and ethno-linguistic divisions continue to grow in their African countries today, even when they discourage the tendencies.

Recognizing the legitimacy of viewpoints of all contending groups and contending ideas, and having dialogue on important issues like FEDERALISM helps to bring peaceful and long-term solutions to Ethiopia and Africa.

In your opinion, which form of federalism is better for Ethiopia?

Have your say and Vote

VOTING IS CLOSED - FINAL RESULTS

24% voted for Pre-1991 federalism

5% voted for TPLF/Minority enforced Ethnic Federalism

61% voted for Majority-led Ethnic Federalism

10% voted for Other form of federalism

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68 comments for this article

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Added: July 03, 2009. 02:15 AM GMT

who is asking for it?

there is an easy solution

the objective of federalism is to give autonomy and self-governance.

the first question we should ask shouuld be "who should get autonomy?"

the who can be answered when we ask the second question -- "who is asking for autonomy"??

do we have any "Gojjam liberation fronts" or Wellega liberation fronts or shewa liberation fronts??

NO

we have oromo, ogaden, tigre, ethiopian(amhara), afar and other liberation fronts.

so the answer is in the question form of WHO IS ASKING FOR AUTONOMY?

Kumsaa

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Added: July 03, 2009. 02:55 AM GMT

do democracy and tribalism go together??

south africa is going back to tribalism and aparthied today because of economic crisis
which means economic development and success correlates with anti-ethnic alliagience

unfortunately ethiopia is very poor so woyane will survive under ethnic federalism banner for many more decades
so the only way for change is to seek democracy

Berhanu

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Added: July 03, 2009. 03:14 AM GMT

Surely Language Based Federalism aka "ethnic federalism is better!

We like it or not the trend is that leave alone Ethiopia, all other African artificial countries will slowly, but surely adopt Language Based Federalism (LBF) aka "ethnic" federalism, because of the following reason, enjoy it!

We nations in Africa suffer from conflicts based on colonial borders and because of disregarding national rights as some thing “ethnic”. This desigantion “ethnic” instead of nation/nationality/people is used by both European colonizers and their puppet African colonizers aka Abyssinians. In reality Africa was borderless, all being called as Ethiopia (meanse black faced in Greek) or Sudan (also meanse black faced in Arab), both refer to land of blacks. It is true all of Africa is land of blacks.

To tackle the problems of nations in Africa and to deal with the present global challenge, Africans are trying to come together and forge an AUG (African Union Government). We are looking at USA or EU as an example. But both can not be good examples. USA is the melting pot for all nations around the world migrating to America and learning english. EU is the Union of well developed and independent mono-national-states, all with their own respective languages good developed and used.

Africa can be neither a melting pot nor a union of well developed only mono-national-states. The nations in Africa are diverse in development and size. What is good for Africa is to build a union (federation) with autonomous national areas for all nations aka “ethnies”.

Based on their size and development, some nations can forge mono-national-state like Oromia. The others, which are too small to have their own state can forge multi-national-state like SNNP of Ethiopia, with all nations having their own Province/Zone, District/Wereda or Community/Qebele as autonomous natonal areas based on their size. Relatively bigger nations like Sidama can have their own autonomous Province, nations smaller than this like Alaba can have autonomous District and the smallest nations like Dorze can have their own Community. Based on their geographical position, certain small nations like Agew and Harari can join the bigger neighbour nations like Amhara or Oromia, but have their own autonomy, be it as province, district or community. Such 5 tier organization (African Federation — Mono-/Multinational States — Mono-/Multinational Provinces — Mono-/Multionational Districts and Mono-/Multinational Communities) is the best way of adiministrative Organization for Africa.

In Short Ethiopian model can be used as that of African, just changing its fake status under Weyane to a very genuine one, for which OLF and the likes are struggling!! Then we will have not only an Integrated region named Ethiopia/HoAfrica, but also an Integrated continent Africa build on the center called Oromia with Finfinne as a capital. The only question we people need to ask our selves is that, at which level are we thinking, talking and walking when we try to deal with politics?? Language Based Federalism (LBF), rather than Geography Based Federalism (GBF), is the panacea for regional integration of Ethiopia/HoAfrica and continental integration of Africa.

Fayyis

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Added: July 03, 2009. 03:36 AM GMT

As I do see, there are four opposition poletical groups in Ethiopia now a days:
1- on the extreme right are Ethio-nationalists, most of them being Amharas, who want to see Ethiopia with uniformily amharanized one people. Parties advocating this position seem to be AEUP, EPPF and EPRP (non-democratic).
2- in the middle right are Region-Based-Federalists like Ato E. Madebo, who do advocate for democratic federal Ethiopia, where there is no visible danger for future distintegation, for national areas like Oromia will be dismantled. Here belongs G-7, UDG, EPRP (Democratic)
3- in middle left are Nation-Based-Federalists usually known as ethnic federalists, who want to see autonomous nations like Oromia determining their fate in their national area, the group which includes parties like ATSD 8Arena), OFC (Oromo federalists), SEDC of Prof Beyene, SDFC of Somali (who are now making democratic dialog under FDD)
4- on extreme left are Ethno-nationalists, who want to see a sovereign, independent republics of their national areas like Gadaa Republic of Oromia. Here belongs ONLF and ULFO.

Interestingly the position of OLF is some where between 3rd and 4th i.e Self-determination of Oromo people per referendum which can lead either to Nation-Based-Federation (usually called Union of Independent Nations) or to Independent Gadaa Republic of Oromia. Now coming to the call of Unity by Ob. E Madebo, I think it is the unity of the 2nd and 3rd groups, who can agree on establishing federal democratic Ethiopia per public verdict to decide on Nation-Based-Federation vs Region-Based-Federation. OLF can be part of this unity, if it prefers the Union more than the Independence. The 1st and 4th groups exclude them selves automatically due to their extreme postion.

Otherwise enjoy the whole discussion between pro LBF (Language Based Federalism)and pro GBF (Geography Based Federalism) here: www.ethiopianreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=11552

Fayyis

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Added: July 03, 2009. 04:39 AM GMT

berhanu,

a federlism system must be strong enough to be sustained both during economic hardship and economic sucess
if you think the DERG era provinces will work, you need to wake up and smell the coffee

Opride

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Added: July 03, 2009. 04:58 AM GMT

Authentic nations prefer "ethnic federalism", whereas fake nations call them selves Hibre-biher to oppose this. This is why one of the fake and fiction stories we are hearing from Ethiopia now is that people try to devide political parties in that empire as "ethnic based" and "hibre-biher". All Amhara parties like AEUP, CUDP, EPPF, EPRP, G7M, UDJ and UEDP try to sell them selves as all inclusive political parties. And they try to villify others like OLF, ONLF, EPRDF...etc as narrow minded "ye biher" organizations. For their justification they try to show us that for eg. UDJ is lead by people from all nationalities.

Here is nothing to fool each other. People from other nationalities, who are active in Amhara parties are only hard-wares with Amhara soft-ware. Just look at those in UDJ and G7M:

- Ad Birtukan Midhegsa is Amhara soft-ware in Oromo hard-ware (she is Amhara in mind and Oromo in blood)

- Dr Hailu Araya is Amhara in mind and Tigaru in blood,

- Dr Berihanu Nega is Amhara in mind and Gurage in blood,

- Ato Muluneh Iyuel is Amhara in mind and Hadiya in blood......etc

Just look at the attempt of stressing to use only Amharic by both paries, they never dare to use Afaan Oromo, eventhough they try to get the support of Oromos. Forget the other conservative "hibre-biher" parties like AEUP and EPRP, who talk only about one "ye Itiyophiya hizb", they never dare to say "ye Itiyophiya hizbooch"! So let's all be ware of Amhara soft-wares in Others' hard-ware!!!

Lewux

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Added: July 03, 2009. 05:44 AM GMT

Kumsaa,
well said brother!

FREE OROMIA

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Added: July 03, 2009. 07:08 AM GMT

It is surprising! Only Amharas and very few amharinized minds of Southerners oppose the well accepted and respected Nation Based Federation (NBF) aka "ethnic" federalism. Well I do respect all Amharas' arguements. But that doesn't mean it is the will of Oromo nation and others' except Amhara's to advocate for region based federation (RBF). Amharas do it, for they know the advantage they get based on the fact that Amharic being the working language of the federation.

Just stop and think other wise: let's say Afaan Oromo is the working language of the federation instead of Amharinya. Do you know who will favour region based federation? It will be Oromos, not Amharas! What I wanted to tell you is that every nation favours what is to its advantage. Now region based federation (RBF) is more advantegious for Amharas and probably for the south nations (all being very small nations, they need a protection of the BIGs). I being Oromo now favour nation based federation (NBF).

But if you people agree to accept Afaan Oromo instead of Amharinya as a federal language, I will be the best advocator of region based federation. Mind you I am not talking about making both Afaan Oromo and Amharinya a working language of the federation as G-7 and co try to make us believe. With this maneuver Amharas want that Amharinya be the working language of also Oromia and other regions, which they do not have now! I am telling you that, let's limit Amharinya in only Amhara region and make Afaan Oromo the only NATIONAL language of Ethiopia. I am sure Amharas will be the supporter of nation based federalism, while I as Oromo will be the best advocator for region based federalism!!

AFDist

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Added: July 03, 2009. 07:17 AM GMT

OFC (OFDM & OPC) people are smart! They influenced Medrek to endorse ethnic federalism, but gave up the useless §39!Very interestingly one interview was given by Abbaaduulaa Gammadaa to Weyane's " poletical civility" forum many monthes ago. He described why §39 is good: "if you close a door to a group of people in a certain house and tell them to be united and live together, surely they will break a door and windows to get out of the house. But if you open the door and tell them be united, surely they will live together." So, it is the best maattaleya wickedly designed against Oromo liberation movement. He also said, the article is good to act when certain "Nefxenyaa" organization like Kinijit "siiqebx ketaayyee innaa kaaseggaa".

So the article was simply ye Amhara masferariya and ye Oromo mataleya. It was the step taken specially as the best maasferareya against Amharas. It is now good that our "fool" Amharas and Oromos could come together in order to fight the common enemy, the worst fascists and looters, the empire ever had!

Meraraw

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Added: July 03, 2009. 07:59 AM GMT

for peace in ethiopia, we need to reduce etnic politics and increese autonomy
If welook at pre-1991 map, most of provinces were actualy one-ethnic based provinces except maybeSHEWA

for the old provinces

- Wellega province =mostly oromo
- illubabor =mostly oromo
- arusi province =mainly oromo
- shewa=mixed
- wollo=mixed
- begemder=mostly amhara
- gojam=mostly amhara
- hararge=mostly somali
- tigray= mostly tigre

so even BEFORE 1991, there was a small degree of undeclared ethnic federalism. but the pre-1991 did not promote ethnocentrism and it did not institutionalize ethnicity
so the pre-1991 was better

Yes, haile selasie's policy were very bad and hegemonic but mengistu was going into a better direction by promoting multiculturallism. LET US NOT FORGET THAT MENGISTU WAS ON THE WAY TO GIVING LOCAL LEVEL LANGUAGE USE BEFORE WOYANE INTERRUPTED IT BY BOMBING NGOS AND TAKING POWER

so the mengitu era system was better to promote both unity and diversity at the same time

Tariku

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