1. Video Lesson

2. Competencies

At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

• identify the main features of the FDRE government;
• debate on the controversial articles of the 1995 FDRE Constitution;
• explain the causes and consequences of the Ethio-Eritrean war of the 1990s;
• point out the major challenges in the process of democratization;
• debate on what would be the way forward for democratization.

3. Brainstorming Questions

• . Discuss the causes and consequences of the Ethio-Eritrean war that broke out in the 1990s.
• Why did Ethiopia and Eritrea fail to establish friendly relations after the signing of the Algiers Agreement and the decision of the Boundary Commission?

4. Key Terminology and Concepts

5. Lesson Presentation

A. The Formation of FDRE

The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) was officially established following the ratification of its Constitution in August 1995. Ato Meles Zenawi, the chairperson of the EPRDF, became the first Prime Minister and commander-in-chief of the Ethiopian Armed Forces. Dr. Negaso Gidada, from the Oromo Peoples’ Democratic Movement (OPDO), was elected as the first president of the FDRE government. The FDRE introduced a federal system with a parliamentary form of governance.

Initially, the FDRE was composed of nine regions and two city-states, Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa. Recently, two additional regions, the Sidama Regional State and the Central & Southwestern Ethiopian Regional State, have been created. The federal structure is largely organized around language and ethnicity. The EPRDF-led government followed the ideology of Revolutionary Democracy, and the economy of the FDRE is primarily based on agriculture.

B. Political Issues, Political Parties, and National Elections

The 1995 constitution replaced the Derg’s single-party system with a multi-party framework. This constitution acknowledges human and democratic rights, as well as the rights of nationalities, and incorporates the UN and African human rights declarations into Ethiopian law. As a result, Ethiopian citizens’ rights to form associations, express their beliefs, and participate in elections are constitutionally guaranteed. However, there are ongoing concerns about how effectively these rights are implemented.

C. Elections in Ethiopia under the EPRDF Government

Elections have a history in Ethiopia, with the Revised Constitution of 1955 introducing formal political elections, though earlier elections during the military regime were not genuine. Under the EPRDF government, general elections have been held every five years since the 1995 constitution was adopted, with elections taking place in 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2015. The 1995 elections saw the EPRDF secure a majority and form the government, although some parties boycotted the process. The 2000 elections also ended with an EPRDF victory, though more parties participated compared to 1995. The 2005 elections were marked by high expectations and opposition unity, with significant opposition gains reported. However, despite opposition wins, the EPRDF was declared the winner, leading to protests, violence, and arrests. The 2010 and 2015 elections saw the EPRDF continue to claim majority wins, with diminishing optimism in the electoral process over time.

D. Peace and Democracy and Equality of Nations and Nationalities

Under the EPRDF, Ethiopia experienced relative peace before the Ethio-Eritrean War, allowing peasants and professionals to carry out their activities without major issues. The EPRDF ended forced conscription for military service, and the question of democracy became a significant topic. However, some opposition groups criticized the EPRDF’s approach to democracy, labeling it as pseudo or nominal, and argued that freedoms of speech and association were not effectively practiced. Minority rights, particularly for those living outside their regions, were often not respected, with limitations on language use and access to trials. Despite these challenges, the FDRE government made efforts to ensure equality among nations, nationalities, and peoples, emphasizing self-determination and the right to education and legal proceedings in one’s own language.

E. The Ethio-Eritrean War

The Ethio-Eritrean War, which began in 1998, was triggered by a boundary dispute over the territory of Badme. Eritrean forces attacked Badme on May 6, 1998, prompting a counteroffensive by Ethiopia on May 13. Despite peace proposals from the USA and Rwanda, which called for Eritrean troop withdrawal, Eritrea’s government rejected them and instead proposed demilitarization overseen by a neutral force. In response, Ethiopia launched “Operation Sunset” on February 22, 1999, successfully regaining control of most contested areas, including Badme, and declared the war over by May 25. The conflict resulted in tens of thousands of casualties on both sides. A peace agreement was reached on June 18, 2000, under the Algiers Agreement, and a UN-patrolled Temporary Security Zone (TSZ) was established. The Ethio-Eritrean Boundary Commission ruled in 2002 that Badme belonged to Eritrea, but the decision was contested, leading to a prolonged state of no peace, no war.