AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER Ethiopia 2010 Executive Summary Two major events in the recent history of Ethiopia have left indelible traces in the collective memory of its citizens: the liberation from the Derg regime in 1991 and the violence which erupted after elections in 2005. The Derg (which means “committee” or “council” in the Ethiopian language Ge’ez) was a communist military junta that came to power following the ousting of Haile Selassie. Headed by Mengistu Haile Mariam it ruled from 1974 to 1991. The Derg was responsible for the death of millions of people through famine, economic mismanagement, enforced resettlements and the “Red Terror”, the elimination of thousands of suspected opposition supporters in urban areas. This dictatorial regime was overthrown by the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), earning the Front (still the ruling party) the deepseated gratitude of millions of Ethiopians. Democratic rights, including the right to freedom of expression, were introduced and state censorship before publication, which had been in place since 1942, was lifted. In 2005, elections were held which have been described as the most democratic the country has ever experienced. As results came in, it became clear that opposition parties had won an unprecedented number of seats. When the announcement of the results was delayed, students in Addis Ababa began staging protests which turned violent. After the results were finally declared (372 seats for the EPRDF and 172 for the opposition) some members of the opposition called the elections “stolen”. More demonstrations were held and the police used live bullets, killing scores of protesters. Some journalists were sent to jail while others fled the country. Given this background some Ethiopians, mainly the older generation, are generally satisfied with the progress made since 1991 while others, mainly younger people, are sceptical about the country’s democratic achievements. This basic difference in outlook was clearly reflected in the panel’s discussions and scoring. Some panelists emphasised the positive developments since 1991 and stressed that further democratic change can only be achieved in stages. Others argued that 2005 had been the test of the authorities’ tolerance of dissent and events had shown that opposition would not be allowed. Although the Constitution of 1995 guarantees freedom of expression and the media, fear of speaking openly is widespread. People are generally afraid to AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ETHIOPIA 2010 5