Ethiopia should pursue multiparty democracy, according to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s chief of staff.
Abiy was meeting national and regional parties on July 22 and his chief of staff, Fitsum Arega, said in a tweet: “PM Abiy concluded: Given our current politics, there is no option except pursuing a multiparty democracy supported by strong institutions that respect human rights and rule of law.”
He said the parties appreciated Abiy’s political reforms and also wanted changes to electoral laws.
As reported by the Reuters news agency, the country allows competing parties but all parliamentary seats are held by the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front, which has maintained tight control in the country of 100 million people since it fought its way to power in 1991.
The ruling coalition has also presided over an economy that has grown faster than any other in sub-Saharan Africa over the past decade.
Since Abiy became prime minister in April, the government has put through a series of reforms including releasing political prisoners, diluting state control of the economy and making peace with northern neighbour Eritrea.
