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Ethiopia's Disintegration: inevitable or Avoidable
(2024)
  • Hambisa Belina, Morgan State University
Description
"Ethiopia’s Disintegration: Inevitable or Avoidable?" explores Ethiopia's precarious state, examining the historical, political, and social factors that have driven the country to the brink of collapse. The author argues that Ethiopia's modern formation, rooted in conquest under Emperor Menelik II, set the stage for inter-nation tensions by centralizing power among the Amhara and Tigray elites, marginalizing other groups such as the Oromo. Due to poor implementation, the nation-based federalism introduced in 1995 failed to resolve these tensions, leading to further political instability and economic inequalities.

The work highlights the influence of international actors and critiques their tendency to prioritize Ethiopia’s unity over justice. It discusses the severe humanitarian crises currently afflicting Ethiopia and offers lessons from other nations that faced similar challenges. The author urges the international community to reconsider its stance, suggesting that a peaceful, negotiated separation might be the best path forward to avoid violent disintegration and ensure long-term stability in the region. Through a call for decentralization, truth and reconciliation, and inclusive governance, the author presents a roadmap for Ethiopia's future, emphasizing that the decisions of both domestic leaders and international actors will determine the outcome.
Keywords
  • Ethiopia,
  • Oromo,
  • disintegration,
  • nation-based federalism,
  • separation,
  • self-determination
Publication Date
Fall August 27, 2024
DOI
https://youtu.be/wZ5zKcNOlH4
Citation Information
Belina, H. (2024). Ethiopia’s disintegration: Inevitable or avoidable? Unpublished manuscript.
Creative Commons license
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons CC_BY-NC-SA International License.