ETHIOPIA: GOVERNMENT WAGES FURTHER ASSAULT ON FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND EXPRESSION

The principles of freedom of speech and expression came under serious attack in the past week in the East African country of Ethiopia where journalists, opposition politicians and bloggers were sentenced to terms in jail for allegedly conniving with rebels to overthrow the government. The prison sentences imposed on the said individuals ranged from between eight years to life imprisonment.


2009’s Anti-terrorism law

The assault on freedom of speech and expression in the country has slowly gathered steam over the last few years but has intensified since 2009 when an anti-terrorism bill was passed by its parliament. One of the by-product of the provisions of the law would see individuals jailed for up to 20 years if found to have published information which could ‘incite’ terrorist activities. This provision appears to stretch the definition of ‘terrorist activity’ to include the work of journalists, bloggers, artists et al which have the temerity to criticise the government when it falls short of maintaining international human rights standards.


The ‘Convicts’

Needless to say unrelenting opprobrium has been heaped on the decision since the verdicts became public knowledge not least because the Ethiopian government has serious form when it comes to incarcerating individuals who voice any forms of dissent against it. Amongst those jailed in this latest onslaught on freedom of speech were Andualem Arage, an opposition politician from the Unity for Democracy and Justice Party (UDJ) who was jailed for life, along with Berhanu Nega and Andargachew Tsige who also received life sentences in absentia.

Probably the most well known of the individuals jailed is blogger and journalist Eskinder Nega who was sentenced to 18 years in jail. Nega appears to have offended the authorities by having the audacity to challenge the government’s decision to arrest, under the aforementioned anti-terrorism legislation, Debebe Eshetu, an actor in the country who has also been a constant thorn in the government’s flesh. In addition, the said individuals and others who received similar sentences were accused of being members of the US-based opposition group Ginbot 7, which the government has classed as a “terrorist organisation”.


Prime Minister Zenawi

The country is led by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary democratic Front (EPRDF) who is currently serving a fourth 5-year term in power following an election victory in May 2010. As has been the case with elections held on the continent, opposition groups refused to accept the decision on the grounds that the elections were not free and fair while international observers chorused in unison that the elections failed to adhere to international standards. Zenawi is said to have been one of the writers of the country’s constitution which was created in 1994. Zenawi has also been the country’s only Prime Minister since multi-party elections were first held in 1995.


Criticisms of the latest convictions

The European Union (EU) has voiced strong concerns about the sentences. The organisation’s foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton averred that the principle of freedom of expression enshrined in the Ethiopian Constitution is somewhat compromised by “a lack of clarity with regards to what constitutes a terrorism offence”. The prominent Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Amnesty International added: “The Ethiopian government is treating calls for peaceful protest as a terrorist act and is outlawing the legitimate activities of journalists and opposition members”.


Sound-off

The detainees’ legal representatives appear to have already set plans in motion to appeal the decision of the authorities. Whilst trying to avoid being labelled a ‘prophet of doom’, it is highly unlikely that the appeals will result in the release of any of the convicted persons. One notes that the country is highly dependent on foreign aid for its economic stability as was the case with the East African country of Malawi where democratic ideals were also threatened by the government in similar circumstances. In Malawi threats of withdrawal of foreign aid and the West’s follow through of the threat was sufficient enough to check the excesses of the government. In the same vein it is unlikely that any measures taken by the West, short of those implemented in Malawi, will be effective as a means of preventing further strangulation and stifling of freedom of speech and expression by the Ethiopian government.

MALAWI: WHAT NEXT FOR ONE OF AFRICA’S YOUNGEST DEMOCRACIES

Late last week one of the world’s most open secrets was finally laid bare as the Malawian authorities confirmed that the country’s President, Bingu wa Mutharika, 78, was dead. The confirmation put to rest rumours which had gathered momentum in the intervening period that the President had succumbed to a cardiac arrest suffered recently. The delay in announcing the death gave rise to fears of political impasse and dispute in the background regarding the potential successor to the position of President.

One might say that whatever disputes being aired out in the political background were finally resolved when Vice-President, Joyce Banda, was sworn in as President in accordance with the country’s constitution. Joyce Banda thus becomes the country’s first female leader since it gained independence in 1964 and southern Africa’s first female leader.

Needless to say the challenges which President Banda faces, as is also the case with many other African countries or countries in the developing world, are pretty enormous to say the least. The small matters of chronic poverty, poor standards of health and education, countering the HIV/AIDS epidemic amongst numerous others await the new President.

The new President will do well to re-engage with the West as her predecessor seemed to have alienated foreign donors who had managed to keep the country’s fragile economy afloat. Observers will recall that under President Mutharika’s watch, the UK’s representative to the country was expelled after leaked diplomatic cables revealed the West’s concerns about the late President’s autocratic behaviour. Earlier in the year the late President also famously commanded, for want of a better word, the foreign donors to “go to hell”.

One doubts that a clairvoyant, fortune teller or a crystal gazing ball may be able to accurately predict the country’s future in the coming days, weeks, months and even years. What is however known is that the late President’s allies are uncomfortable with the idea of the Vice-President, whom the late President never saw eye to eye with, replacing him. One recalls that both predecessor and successor had a most public falling out over the predecessor’s plans for his brother, also the country’s Foreign Minister, to run as the ruling party’s Presidential candidate in elections planned for 2014.

These political rifts will need to heal and common ground between political opponents will need to be found if any progress is to be made in the interim. The bloodless transition is nevertheless commendable considering the still unfolding situation in Mali and other parts of the continent. As is always the case, time will tell whether this young democracy will see middle, and if lucky, maybe old age.