Ethiopia's electoral landscape shaped by authoritarian consolidation and systemic marginalization of opposition
Original framing: “Ethiopia's opposition brace for ruling party election landslide” — Africa News
Ethiopia's political landscape has historically been shaped by centralization and exclusion. The current election is part of a long pattern of authoritarian consolidation that began with the Derg regime and continued through the EPRDF's dominance. Understanding this history is key to recognizing the current trajectory.
The upcoming Ethiopian election is not a democratic process but a mechanism of authoritarian consolidation.
It reflects deep historical patterns of exclusion, reinforced by state control of media and violence against dissent. Cross-culturally, this mirrors trends in other post-colonial states where elections are used to legitimize power rather than to transfer it. Indigenous and marginalized voices are systematically excluded, and the current system fails to reflect the diversity of Ethiopia's population. A trickster reading reveals the absurdity of holding an election under such conditions, and a systemic approach is needed to address the root causes of political exclusion. International actors must shift from legitimizing the current regime to supporting genuine reform and accountability.