Fast politics, slow justice: Ethiopia鈥檚 Somali region two years after Abdi Iley
This paper takes stock of political dynamics in Ethiopia鈥檚 Somali Regional State since the downfall of the former regional President
Abstract
This briefing paper takes stock of political dynamics in Ethiopia鈥檚 Somali Regional State since the downfall of former regional President Abdi Mohamed Omar 鈥業ley鈥� in August 2018. Drawing attention to the legacy of violence and abuses that have plagued Somali region until recently, the briefing paper highlights the positions of some of the most prominent political actors, in particular the regional government led by President Mustafa Mohammoud Omar and the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF). While the end of the Abdi 鈥業ley鈥� administration brought important changes to the region, it led to a political realignment rather than to regime change or structural reform. However, political dynamics and crises have developed rapidly in the past year, but justice has been slow in the coming. Both in Somali region and Ethiopia at large continuities between current and previous administrations are apparent. They raise doubts as to whether a meaningful transitional justice process can take place in Somali region and the rest of the country.
This work is part of the Conflict Research Programme managed by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
Citation
T. Hagmann. 2020. 鈥楩ast politics, slow justice: Ethiopia鈥檚 Somali region two years after Abdi Iley麓, Conflict Research Programme, London: LSE.