Roundup: Ethiopian ruling coalition's election of new leader shows commitment to reform: analyst

ADDIS ABABA, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The decision by Ethiopia's ruling coalition to elect a new leader shows a commitment to reform, an Ethiopian analyst said on Wednesday.

The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) on Tuesday elected Abiy Ahmed as its new chairperson, effectively making him the next Prime Minister of Ethiopia.

Ahmed, chairman of Oromo People's Democratic Organization (OPDO) which rules over Ethiopia's largest and most populous regional state of Oromia, will replace the outgoing Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn who has ruled Ethiopia after the death of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi in August 2012.

Desalegn comes from another EPRDF coalition member party, the Southern Ethiopian People's Democratic Movement (SEPDM).

The confirmation of Abiy Ahmed as the new chairperson of EPRDF and soon to be new PM ends more than a month of political uncertainty ever since Desalegn offered his resignation on February 15.

Speaking to Xinhua, Abebe Aynete, senior researcher, Ethiopia Foreign Relations Strategic Studies (EFRSS), local think tank, said EPRDF with this decision showed that it is capable of making reform minded decisive steps to solve Ethiopia's political crisis.

In recent months, internal political wrangling among four coalition partners of EPRDF, including Tigray People's Liberation Front, Amhara National Democratic Movement, South Ethiopia People's Democratic Movement and Oromo People's Democratic Organization (OPDO), has cast fears about the stability of the nation of about 100 million people.

Ethiopia is also reeling from persistent deadly protests since 2016, especially in the two most populous regional states of Amhara and Oromia over alleged political and economic marginalization.

The political crisis led the Ethiopian government to declare a martial law on February 16, the second the East African country imposed since the second half of 2016.

Ethiopia imposed the martial law, saying it was to protect the country's constitution, citizens and their property from the ongoing violent demonstrations in some parts of the country.

Ethiopia had previously witnessed a 10-month long martial law imposed in October 2016, later lifted in August 2017.

Aynete, said for a party known for its strict adherence to ideology and hierarchical power decision, the decision to appoint Ahmed shows a willingness to adapt to popular pressures.

"EPRDF has shown its not a party of the few, rather it can act in the best interest of the majority and even be a party of the masses," he told Xinhua.

Aynete's assessment was shared by Abera Tekele, 32, a resident of Addis Ababa who said he hopes Ethiopia's new leader in particular will address youth unemployment and political reform.

"I hope Ahmed is able to use wisely the two years before the next general election in May 2020 to address mass youth unemployment and create space for political opposition," said Tekele. Currently EPRDF and allied parties control all the 547 seats in the Ethiopian parliament.

Speaking at various public events in recent months, Ahmed has urged Ethiopia to embrace modern knowledge and tap into the potential of youth population.

Ahmed previously served in various capacities in Ethiopia starting as a member of Ethiopian Defense Force with a rank of Lieutenant Colonel, before helping establish Ethiopian Information Network Security Agency (INSA), an organization tasked with securing Ethiopia's digital network.

He also served as a Minister of the Ethiopia Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST). Enditem