The Ethiopian Prime Minister has promised to work assiduously towards uniting all the political parties and groups in the country’s Oromo region in preparation for next year’s elections. The Prime Minister said that it is time for political groups in the region to come together for the good of the region and the country at large. Abiy who incidentally is the first Prime Minister from the Oromo Region in recent times noted that the political parties in his home region should work together to serve the Oromo people.

A representative of the Oromo Democratic Party (ODP), the Prime Minister said that the time when political parties work against each other should come to an end, thus the need to embrace unity and progress. Abiy ascension to power has to a large extent helped to calm frayed nerves in the region because Oromia, which is the largest and most populous regional state in Ethiopia was for some years the scene of demonstrations, riots and incidents that led to deaths of both security officials and civilians, as well as massive displacements.

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As part of his efforts to deliver a credible election in 2020, his party has been engaging in political horse trading and building of alliances with other parties that led anti-government protests three years ago. The most recent agreements for collaboration were signed by the Prime Minister on behalf of his Oromo Democratic Party, the Oromo Federalist Congress led by Prof Merea Gudina, and Oromo Liberation Front led by Dauwd Ibsa. All leaders pledged to work towards complementing each other’s efforts.

The 2020 elections will be the first vote after Abiy began his sweeping reforms aimed at opening the country’s political and democratic space. Abiy has pledged to ensure that the vote is free, fair and credible and has stated publicly that he will handover power if the ruling Ethiopia Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front, EPRDF, lost.

He has held talks with registered opposition groups and nominated a new elections chief to undertake reforms of the electoral body in the lead up to the polls. Birtukan Mideksa, a former judge and political dissident has been praised as being a right fit for the job.

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The ruling bloc in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, the Oromo Democratic Party (ODP) has continued building political alliances with competing parties ahead of elections slated for 2020. According to the Party’s Spokesperson Taye Dendea, the party was preparing to enter talks with over ten parties that shared a similar political agenda and plan of action.

Dendea added that further talks were being held with the Oromo Liberation Front, an ex-rebel group that returned from Eritrea after a peace deal was signed between the two countries in July this year. ODP led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed recently agreed a deal with the Oromo Democratic Front, ODF, led by Lencho Leta. The merger was announced in late November after a meeting between Leta and Oromia region president Lemma Megerssa.

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry.