Addis Abeba– The Caucus of Opposition Parties (CoP), an umbrella group of six opposition parties in Ethiopia, has accused the ruling Prosperity Party of turning the country into a “war economy” and warned of the “rapid shrinking of civic space.” The group alleges that journalists, rights advocates, and humanitarian actors face escalating repression and exile.
In a statement released on 19 December, 2024, the Caucus, which includes the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC), claimed that the government “has allocated most of the annual budget to war and security, leaving development and infrastructure projects underfunded.” They warned that this has resulted in “deepening economic hardship,” with citizens struggling under rising living costs.
The statement further alleged, “Political parties have been stripped of their constitutional rights. Citizens have been criminalized and forced into silent compliance.” The Caucus added, “The economy has shifted to a war economy, with the majority of resources diverted away from development.”
The Caucus criticized the national dialogue process, claiming, “While the ruling party speaks of dialogue, the reality is that they continue to provoke instability and division through fabricated propaganda.” They emphasized their call for a “genuine, trustworthy negotiation process,” which they argue has been ignored.
The opposition also condemned recent amendments to the Mass Media Proclamation, stating, “Media outlets are being shut down, and journalists are facing imprisonment or exile.” They added, “Rights advocates and activists are being harassed and intimidated.”
On transitional justice, the statement claimed that despite government rhetoric about transition, it remains “stuck in patterns of impunity. Justice has not been served to those harmed by government actions.” They highlighted the plight of “well-known individuals—politicians, rights advocates, and journalists—who continue to suffer without accountability.”
The opposition expressed concern over regional and international diplomacy, stating, “The country’s diplomatic and trade relationships are becoming strained due to a lack of careful analysis and short-term political decisions.” They urged the government to adopt policies based on “sustainable strategic aims” rather than “temporary conditions.”
Regarding domestic development, they criticized the ‘Corridor Development’ project, describing the “destruction of homes and businesses” as a source of “severe hardship.” They urged the government to halt such projects and focus on “public needs and pressing national development interests.”
The Caucus, established in June 2022, has previously criticized the National Dialogue Commission, alleging that “it serves political purposes for the ruling party” rather than fostering an inclusive national dialogue. AS
