Ethiopian Federal System: gains amidst challenges

Gemechu Tussa

Ethiopian Federalism has become one of the arguable issues.  Some argue the federal system weakened the unison of the people and broaden jingoism and chauvinism among the people. They described the federal system as if it negates to the unitary system using inevitable problems occurring here and there. This portrayal engulfed the very reality of the fruits of the federalism system in Ethiopia that I strongly believe it is really far away from the pith of the truth.

First and for most, we have to stab dig out the essence of the gains and challenges the country has faced under the federal system in the past twenty six years. It is of paramount importance to go through whether the federal system brought fundamental opportunities to the entire population or deprived them of their rights.  

Almost twenty six years have elapsed since the implementation of the Ethiopian federal system.  It is so long that less than 30 years old youngsters might figure out the brutality imposed on their fathers and mothers before three decades ago.

Neither do the elders exerted efforts to share their recent history properly with the large number of youth population in the country. This has created gaps in viewing the affirmative strides in the country parallel to the challenges they face. This leads some of the youngsters to miscalculate the story.

 They made the comparison with countries like the United States of America and Canada who have been experiencing democratic federal system for more than one hundred years. In fact, I do not personally believe on the notion of absolute democracy even in those countries.

My point is the comparison made between Ethiopia and the United States of America and Canada in reference to democracy is really injustice, unjustifiable and erroneous.

How could we weigh the democratic and federal maturity developed in 100 plus years with that of 26 years? Rather, it would be appropriate if we stick our assessment on the improvements the country has been making from time to time amidst various challenges.  

Although the socio-economic and political scenario of the country has now altogether altered, the youth do not know what the situations were in those old days. They are only aware of the present situation, in which nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia face some challenges and enjoy some fruits. As the saying goes, “Ill winds spread fast!” only the problems have been spreading among the youth fast.

Despite the assenting impacts of the Ethiopian Federalism, some people botched to apprehend the changes. However, it has a momentous contribution to the emerging economy. Both fundamental and democratic rights of all nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia have respected due to the federal system, in which people got rooms to administer and develop their respective regions.

They rather blindly considered the Ethiopian Federalism as an instrument designed to crumble the country’s unity. However, in its very essence, the Ethiopia Federalism as  a system divides power between the central and the regional governments where both have supreme power in their sphere.

Ethiopians has more than 76 nations, nationalities and peoples. They have diverse cultures, languages and religions.  The federalism system considered language pluralism and regional autonomy.

The people have been administering their respective regions; designing and carrying out regional development plans, enhancing their culture and language using the budget share.  Many political analysts argue that all nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia got relief from the unitary system that has deprived their rights.  

Since the multi-party system took the upper hand to the unitary governance system, a room  has created for the nations, nationalities and peoples to establish their political party working for the  develop their region.

Past twenty six years witnessed the contribution of the Federal System to develop appropriate budgetary system and faire development distributions.   Another noteworthy fruits is it ensured self-rule and shared rule of nations, nationalities and peoples.  The freedom to organize political parties, civil societies and the press have emanated from the federal and democratic system.  

In fact, there were some challenges and gaps in implementing the constitutional principles in the country and it was coerced to pass lots of ups and downs.  The current challenges could be well viewed if the evaluation is a sort of comparison within the sphere of the country’s political history.

As both Emperor Haile Selassie and the military rule attempted to create a unitary state, they failed to properly address the question of nations and nationalities

The current federalism system differs from attempts during the Emperor and the military rules because it maintains the basis of ethnic federalism as well as cultural, language and political autonomy at regional levels.

Past experiences witnessed that Ethiopia has achieved a strong unity through diversity. The federal system paved ways for a peaceful and harmonized co-existence of all nations, nationalities and peoples.  

It also played a pivotal role in economic success by empowering every citizen and every community to contribute to the nation's development and to be benefited from it in a fair and equitable manner. 

As additional point the federal system has contributed a lot to realize peace and stability in the country and strengthened the democratic system in the country.  Reports indicated that the identity and language based system has satisfied the will of all Ethiopians more accurately than any other system of governance.

It enabled nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia to administer them develop their languages and cultures, to come together for the united Ethiopia. The respect to group rights has contributed to narrowing inequality among citizens.

It also developed trust among nations, nationalities and peoples that contributed to the thriving of lasting peace in the country.  As regional states managed to administer themselves, all Ethiopians are able to develop their respective regions.  

Despite blind criticisms, Ethiopian federalism has brought a number of opportunities to the Ethiopian nations, nationalities and peoples. It offered them an equal opportunity, a room to develop their culture and languages. Above all, it enabled them to strengthening their unity and work day in day out being hand in glove to realize the Renaissance of their country under the umbrella of the federal system.