Policy and political implications of government responses to COVID-19 in Ethiopia

Abstract

ABSTRACT In Ethiopia there have been contested political debates over the government’s response to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. The postponement of the sixth national election, constitutional interpretation and the continuation of the terms of the House of People’s Representatives are sources of contentious political debates. All these require policy and political analysis. Political actors argued that the contested political notions have critical political and policy implications that extend beyond the impacts of the pandemic. The country’s political history is marked by political opportunism and power struggles in which force is used to conquer/maintain power, as well as political repression and a lack of political consensus. It is argued that COVID-19 was used as an opportunity by political actors to consolidate their power. Together with identity politics, such political opportunism contributed significantly to the escalation of political tensions that led to civil war throughout the country. It also has more far-reaching effects on people’s sociopolitical and economic lives such as mass deaths, displacements and violations of basic human rights than COVID-19. Furthermore, it altered the country’s diplomatic relations with the international community. Therefore, in Ethiopian politics, the notion that political problems are more pressing than the consequences of COVID-19 is plausible.