The EPRDF and ethnic federalism
Rebels led by the TPLF take power, rebuild Ethiopia as a federation of ethnically defined regions with a right to secede, and preside over rapid growth under one-party dominance.
- Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia — Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (1995)
- A History of Modern Ethiopia, 1855–1991 — Bahru Zewde, James Currey (2001)
- A History of Ethiopia — Harold G. Marcus, University of California Press (2002)
- Ethiopia — Encyclopaedia Britannica
In May 1991 the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front, a coalition led by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, took Addis Ababa. Its leader, Meles Zenawi, governed until his death in 2012. Eritrea, liberated by its own rebels the same month, voted for independence in 1993.
- A History of Modern Ethiopia, 1855–1991 — Bahru Zewde, James Currey (2001)
- A History of Ethiopia — Harold G. Marcus, University of California Press (2002)
The 1995 constitution created a federal republic of regional states, drawn largely along ethnic and linguistic lines, and Article 39 gave each nation, nationality and people the right to self-determination, including secession. Languages such as Afaan Oromoo flourished in schools and media as never before.
- Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia — Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (1995)
- The Oromo of Ethiopia: A History, 1570–1860 — Mohammed Hassen, Cambridge University Press (1990)
Under a “developmental state” model, with heavy public investment in roads, dams, industrial parks and health posts, Ethiopia became one of the world’s fastest-growing economies in the 2000s and 2010s, and poverty fell. But elections were tightly controlled, and after the disputed 2005 election security forces killed about 200 protesters. From 2015 mass protests by Oromo and then Amhara youth, met with lethal force, finally forced the ruling coalition to change course in 2018.
- Ethiopia — Encyclopaedia Britannica
- A History of Ethiopia — Harold G. Marcus, University of California Press (2002)
Meles himself remains divisive: admired by many, including Western donors, as a brilliant strategist who delivered growth, and resented by others as the architect of a system that kept Tigrayan elites in power, jailed journalists and leased land to foreign investors over the heads of local farmers. Many Ethiopians think of these years as a time of new roads and buildings, and of politics best not spoken about in public.
- A History of Modern Ethiopia, 1855–1991 — Bahru Zewde, James Currey (2001)
- Ethiopia — Encyclopaedia Britannica
After a century of forced assimilation, the system finally let Oromo, Somali, Sidama and dozens of others govern themselves and use their own languages in schools, courts and government. Abandoning it would mean returning to domination from the centre.
- Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia — Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (1995)
- The Oromo of Ethiopia: A History, 1570–1860 — Mohammed Hassen, Cambridge University Press (1990)
Ethnic federalism turned identity into the basis of politics, left minorities in each region vulnerable, and fuelled displacement and violence, while real power stayed with the TPLF-dominated ruling party.
- A History of Modern Ethiopia, 1855–1991 — Bahru Zewde, James Currey (2001)
- A History of Ethiopia — Harold G. Marcus, University of California Press (2002)
Why it matters today
The 1995 constitution still organises the country into regions mostly based on ethnicity and language, and its famous Article 39 grants every "nation, nationality and people" the right to self-determination up to secession. Whether this system protects Ethiopia's diversity or tears it apart is the central argument of Ethiopian politics.