The State of Emergency (SoE) which was declared following the political unrest that surfaced in some parts of the country would give ample opportunity for the government to address public grievances, rectify mistakes, restore peace and ensure stability, so disclosed scholars.
Costantinos Berhuhtesfa (PhD), Former Senior Policy Advisor of the United Nations in New York told The Ethiopian Herald that the SoE declared on 16 March 2018, was an advisable move by Council of Ministers. It helps the Ethiopian government to bring back everything to normalcy and to give solutions for the questions which caused unrest.
“There are many reasons why nations could declare SoE. It could be because of war, terror act, natural disaster or any other threat. It could be declared to save human lives and parry material destruction,” he sates, adding, “Ethiopia is facing violent protest which has been posing threat to the constitutional government and federal system. Thus, SoE would be vital to safeguard the well being of citizens, to respect the constitution and to restore peace and stability.”
According to the Ethiopian Constitution Article 93, the Council of Ministers of the Federal Government shall have the power to decree a SoE, should an external invasion, a breakdown of law and order which endangers the Constitutional order and which cannot be controlled by the regular law enforcement agencies and personal, a natural disaster, or an epidemic occurs.
Hence, the government has declared the SoE to ensure law and order being violated by emotion-charged and destructive protests, Dr Costantinos insists.
He added that the public have been calling for the government to take measures on those who instigate ethnicity-based attacks, block roads, burn and ransack government and private properties at some places.
“Having listened to those public outcries, the government has taken swift measures by declaring the SoE. As a result, we are witnessing the restoration of peace and stability within weeks,” he says.
According to him, before the political unrest Ethiopia was in a very smooth track that has allowed several development endeavors a hit.
Ethiopia has shown immense progress in expanding infrastructural facilities, constructing industrial parks and ensuring the Millennium Development Goals, he says. “Thus, the government needs time to keep momentum and the SoE would be crucial to rectify mistakes.”
Luelseged Girma, Research Team Leader with Ethiopian Foreign Relations Strategic Studies Institutes for his part states that besides safeguarding human lives and respecting rule and order, the SoE would be highly crucial to reclaim the good image of the nation that was recognized by many observers as an island of peace, stability and fast economic growth in the conflict-stricken Horn African region.
“Ethiopia has been building good image associated with peace, stability, democratization process and development. But since recent times, serious threat has been posed which could tarnish this good image,” Leulseged highlights, adding, “The SoE has the capacity to alleviate the threats from the grassroots level.”
Dr. Costantinos consolidates Luelseged’s idea that the nation has been branding itself with many success stories over the last two decades and the SoE would be important to maintain the branding process.
“The most important thing is branding. Ethiopia has been branding itself as one of the fastest growing economies in the world. The second thing is that Ethiopia has become an important player in the Horn and Red Sea region. It needs to strengthen these accomplishments through resolving the concerns which have provoked such destructive protests,”
As far as maladministration is concerned the ruling party has identified gaps in its administration capability and is displaying conviction than never before to rectify its structure.
Asst. Prof. with Addis Ababa University Institute of Peace and Security Studies, Yonas Adaye for his part underscores that the SoE would pave a way for the government to reform its dysfunctional structure.
“There is a grave leadership incompetency within the ruling party, from Kebele up to Federal level. Leadership incompetency resulted in lack of good governance and other malpractices, he said: Adding, “those malpractices have created frustration, contempt and resentment which later fomented disturbances. Hence, the SoE will help the government to reorganize its structure and to bring those involved in wrongdoings to justice.”
Dr. Yonas believed that though they were destructive in some ways, the political protests would have positive impact in enhancing democratic culture and they would be used as an input for more political space.
The scholars admitted that SoE restricts some human rights. But since it saves human lives, protect property and safeguards law and order; it compulsory nature goes without saying.
They also urged citizens not to give ear to fictitious news being dished out and propagated on social media to hoodwink those, especially trigger-happy youths, that do not take things with a grain of salt. Also citizens must nurture the culture of presenting their questions in proper and civilized manner.