Contemporary Dictatorship: The Grim Reality of Succession Politics in Ethiopia

by Zekarias Ezra

Hailemariam Desalegn

The political succession that took place after the passage of PM Meles Zenawi and at the recent EPRDF Congress is fascinating and intriguing. The Congress is fascinating because it went smoothly, peacefully and predictably. It is intriguing in so far as it is a clear indication of EPRDF’s stand on political leadership-which is institutionalizing the political power succession process.
Vowing to continue PM Meles’s policies, PM Haile Mariam states “The (Ethiopian) people love, thank, mourn (and now with the Meles Foundation) they may cherish the memory of PM Meles Zenawi because he devoted his life-long energies to the Ethiopian people, performed immortal feats for the independence and liberation of the Ethiopian nation.”
The above statement was first spoken by Former Chinese Premier Jiang as eulogy to the late Premier Deng Xiaoping. I simply replaced the names. Notice the striking similarity.
For two weeks after the death of PM Deng, Chinese state media ran news stories and documentaries related to Deng’s life and death, with the regular 7 pm National News program in the evening lasting almost two hours over the regular broadcast time. The Ethiopian TV and News Agency did almost the same for PM Meles. It is not my contention that such extended mourning was uncalled for nor should not have happened for PM Meles.
My objective is to simply underscore the entrenched similarity between CCP’s political and propaganda and that of EPRDF. In short, EPRDF, under the later PM leadership, has adopted in wholesome fashion the play book of the Chinese communist party (CCP). Just like the CCP, in Ethiopia, we have a situation where the State implements the policy developed by the Party.
In China, political power is held collectively by the members of the EPRDF Executive Committee (Politburo). The recent power transfer has shown that decision making has become consensus driven (within the Politburo) and that no single figure can any longer act unilaterally as in the days of Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. Looking at what has transpired in Ethiopia after the passage of PM Meles, we could reasonably deduce the same play book is at work in Ethiopia.
The most important and senior officials of the Ethiopian government are all members of EPRDF. In fact, EPRDF Executive Committee members hold positions in Ethiopia’s national government and regional positions of power simultaneously thereby consolidating EPRDF’s power.
In almost identical manner as in China, key policy topics are addressed in the EPRDF Executive Committee which then determines policy actions to be taken by the national and local governments. The policy direction for the entire country, therefore, rests in the hands of 36 individuals. Theoretically, members are elected to this body but everyone knows that admission into the Executive Committee is extremely difficult. EPRDF is shrouded with secrecy despite the official claim to the contrary.
Just like in China, the process of sending the old guards of EPRDF to semi-retirement has begun with the second generation of the party leaders beginning their carefully staged and choreographed entrance into the limelight of political power.
My friends, whether we want to admit it or not the inner working of the Ethiopian political system resembles that of China with one inconsequential exception. Unlike the CCP, EPRDF allows other Political Parties to take part in elections the outcome of which will always be rigged in EPRDF’s favor.
The gallant sons and daughters of Ethiopia who fought the Derg would have indeed died in vain should the current political system allowed to continue to the third and fourth generations of EPRDF leaders guaranteeing, in effect, Ethiopia is but their fiefdom.
With the ascension of PM Haile Mariam, most have hoped to see a flicker of change in tone and action. Nothing really has changed indicating the political bandwagon the current leaders have chosen to embark on or rather had already embarked on is the same as their Chinese counterpart.
Typical to the characters or modern dictators, EPRDF is ever-morphing, honing its skills and daily replacing more brutal forms of intimidation with seemingly “free” elections and talk of human rights and ‘fake’ judicial systems. In order to face off against Ethiopia’s dictators, all freedom loving and democracy advocates—students, activists, lawyers, and ordinary citizens must grow increasingly savvy themselves and adopting new strategies for the struggle that really define the future of the Country.