ADDRESSING THE TRIPLE QUEST OF CONTEMPORARY ETHIOPIA: PEACE, DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

It has been over two decades since Ethiopia adopted the current federal system of government. The FDRE Constitution was meant to enable the various nations, nationalities, and peoples of Ethiopia to live together in spite of their differences on the basis of equality and mutual respect. Nevertheless, it has not been easy to properly utilize the existing federal structure and Constitution in the manner it was designed for thereby ensuring the overall prosperity of the nation and one economic community. The country has suffered from ethnic and tribal conflicts, internal displacement of peoples, the killing of innocents, and lack of good governance. Consequently, there are emerging groups that attribute the aforementioned challenges to the current ethnic federalism claiming that the country would be better if built upon another basis. Against this backdrop, this study aims at investigating whether the existing federalism is a problem in itself or whether the country would be better off by introducing other systems. In so doing, it employs the qualitative doctrinal research methodology by making a content analysis of primary data from the FDRE Constitution and other legislation of the country and relevant international legal and political instruments. It also uses pertinent literature to locate the prevailing state of knowledge on the subject matter as secondary sources of data. The study finds that the federal structure, in and of itself, has not been the primary source of problems in the country but it has been the failure to properly implement the existing system and the Constitution which resulted in the anomalies. It adds that the proper implementation and a modest constitutional reform would enable the country to ensure the triple quest of the country- peace, democracy, and development.