Analysis of the Motto: Our Constitution for Democratic Unity and Renaissance

(By Ewenetu Yitawek)

The 11^th Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Day was celebrated on December, 9, 2016 in Harer, the capital of Hareri Regional State. Harar city is known for its astonishing tourist destinations including Harar Jugol and Feres Magala Square. It has been recognized by UNESCO in 2006 as an inland urban settlement with a distinct architectural character and social organization, which cannot be compared to any other town in East Africa. The city long known as a symbol of love, coexistence and unity in diversity had warmly received and hosted its most awaited guests from all corners of the state.

This year’s Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Day’s motto was Our Constitution for Democratic Unity and Renaissance. As the phrase tells the motto is composed of two big concepts with immense implications on Ethiopian’s social, economic and political atmosphere: Democratic Unity and Renaissance. Hence, a thorough analysis of the motto is paramount importance to understand the messages within.

Democratic unity is a situation in which individual citizens or groups of people with different opinion or interests coexist peacefully by accommodating their divergence through democratic mechanisms. The parties concerned strive to enhance their unity and promote shared interests on the basis of equality and without any sexual, ethnic, religious or cultural discrimination. Sometimes they even sacrifice some exclusive advantages for the sake of common interests and benefits. They do so to ultimately ensure a lasting peace, guaranteeing a democratic order and advancing economic and social development. In a democratic unity, a particular group’s interest shall not prevail over the others’. Rather everyone recognizes and respects the others’ interest, right and freedom. Therefore, it can be said that democratic unity is far from a kind of forceful integrity.

Ethiopian’s long history visa vis its various regimes, however, do not live up to the basic essence of democratic unity. Whether in Ethiopia’s centuries long history or since the establishment of central government towards the end of the 19^th Century, Ethiopia has never been a homogeneous state. The nations, nationalities and peoples we see now were there since time memorial led by and organized under their own traditional administrations. Besides, they have their own languages, culture, values and psychological make ups. With regard to religion, in addition to Christianity and Islam which were introduced in to Ethiopia since the 4^th and the 7^th Century, respectively, various traditional religions have been practiced for long.

However, the way these diversities were managed prior to 1991 was unjust. Struggle to be superior to others and assimilating different backgrounds involuntarily characterizes Ethiopia’s politics. In spite of the urgent need to build democratic culture on the basis of tolerance, the previous regimes follow the opposite route of assimilation and forceful integration. The emperors try to promote the notion of nation state. There was a state religion in a country where different beliefs were followed. The military Derg regime inhibited all religions in the name of socialism.

Because both types of regimes aspire to form a unitary centralized state, nations, nationalities and peoples were unable to use and develop their own language, culture and belief. They were compelled to change into and abide by other identity which they don’t belong to. The very reason why former governments do so is because they wrongly interpreted the essence of unity. They believe that unity can only be achieved if people have the same identity, speak same language, practice similar culture and follow single religion. This wrong perception, and of course, contrary to Ethiopia’s reality led the country to the brink of collapse during the early 1990s.

Ethiopians, however, never had accepted repressive regimes that deprived of their human and democratic rights. They instead had resisted and fought back for their political, social and economic rights. Their final victory so came in 1991 when the Derg regime was wholly defeated.

In the new Ethiopia, Ethiopians have strongly convinced that living as one economic and political community is necessary to create sustainable and mutually supportive conditions. After long period of anti democratic rules, through the representative they duly elected, they have adopted a constitution that binds them in a mutual commitment to fulfill their hopes and objectives. The constitution establishes a decentralized federal democratic state. According to article 8 of this constitution all sovereign power resides in the Nations, Nationalities and Peoples of Ethiopia. The independence of the state from religion is guaranteed.

The FDRE Constitution grants nations, nationalities and peoples full right of self administration on local issues and shared rights on the state affairs. “Every Nation, Nationality and People in Ethiopia has the right to a full measure of self government which includes the right to establish institutions of government in the territory that it inhabits and to equitable representation in state and Federal governments.” (Article 39:3) The constitution, on article 39:1 stipulates “Every Nation, Nationality and People in Ethiopia has an unconditional right to self determination, including the right to secession.” Hereby, it has effectively abandoned the previous emphatic territorial and peoples’ unity and lays foundation for unity based on tolerance, willingness and mutual understanding. Besides, nations have the full right to use and develop their own language, to express, to develop and to promote their own culture; and to preserve their history. These constitutional articles are serving as an accelerating force for creating democratic unity and a harmonized society.

However, democratic unity is not the ultimate goal for the Ethiopian people. They badly need and preserve it because they want to put it in to service. They have envisioned “to see that Ethiopia becomes a nation where, through popular participation and the consent of its peoples, democracy and good governance reign, social justice prevail, and where being emancipated from poverty, the country enjoys a middle income status.” Plus, they have a common project to realize which they call Ethiopian Renaissance. This vision could not be realized unless the constitutional rights of nations, nationalities and peoples is fully observed and one political and social community is built on the foundation of the rule of law. That is why this year’s motto embraces the concept of Renaissance, too.

Since the eve of the third Ethiopian Millennium, Ethiopian Renaissance has been a motivational drive for all Ethiopians to march against poverty and backwardness. Ethiopian Renaissance springs from Ethiopia’s position as one of the few civilized nations 3000 years ago. Ethiopia was then among the few ancient world civilizations. Thus Ethiopian Renaissance is all about securing Ethiopia’s previous position as a forefront civilized state. However, this does not mean same Ethiopia as it was 3000 years ago will come again. It is rather making the new Ethiopia prosperous, modernized and strong as per the 21^st century standards.

The FDRE Constitution has created conducive environment to realize this ambition. On the basis of the constitution, Ethiopia is registering rapid and continuous economic growth. Ethiopia’s double digit economic growth for the last 13 years has almost reached global consensus. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) ranks Ethiopia among the five fastest growing economies in the world (AfDB, 2015). The World Bank also forecasts Ethiopia to become a middle income country by 2025. Ethiopia got its first sovereign credit rating of a “B” from three credible institutions: Standard & Poor’s Financial Services, Moody’s and Fitch Ratings, in 2014. Ethiopia is now among the top four destinations for investment.

When the Derg regime collapsed, the economy was at its worst stage to which more than half of the population was under poverty line. Now, as reports of 2014 indicate, the number of people living under the poverty line has decrease to 23.4 percent. Per capita income has reached 691 dollars in 2014 from 70 dollars 24 years before. The concerted effort the country has made on the agriculture sector has led the state to be food self sufficient by producing more than 250 million quintals of basic cereal crops.

Ethiopia’s overall economic growth is bestowing concrete economic benefits for neighboring countries thus fostering good neighborliness. Being the largest African and fourth largest global troop contributor to UN peacekeeping operations since 2011, it helped in stabilizing its neighbors and the region. It deploys peacekeeping forces in neighboring Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia. In sum, facts and figures witness Ethiopia is on the rise and Ethiopian Renaissance is achievable.

In spite of the developments in all fields, however, there are also serious challenges and problems related to the long journey of renaissance. Women and the youth are not adequately taking part in and benefiting from the process of nation building. Unemployment is severe for the youth and women. Poverty and backwardness are still prevalent in Ethiopia. Life is still harsh for low income societies due to unfair distribution of income. Lack of good governance and hence dissatisfaction from government services is critical problem both in urban and rural areas. The political economy is still trapped by rent seeking activities, despite improvements in rural areas. Both the government and the ruling party need to work a lot to fully respond to the ever increasing public demand to develop. These problems should be addressed soon by mobilizing the people itself. 

This year’s Nations, Nationalities and People Day celebrated at a turning point in our journey of renaissance. In one hand, real changes on the ground are lifting Ethiopia and its almost 100 million people to higher level. On the other hand, public grievance due to failure to address the aforesaid problems is rising to the level of violence and unrest in many areas. The motto, Our Constitution for Democratic Unity and Renaissance, thus is recognition to the fruits of the constitution, and a reminder to all that the way forward to tackle our problems lies in our constitution, as well.