Nurturing peaceful political contestation is vital to Ethiopia’s future, says PM Abiy

Addis Ababa, June 18, 2025 (FMC) — Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to strengthening democratic governance in Ethiopia through continued engagement with political parties and a wide range of national stakeholders.

In a message shared today via his official social media platforms, the Prime Minister reflected on the landmark decision to open Ethiopia’s political space in 2018, calling it “a pivotal decision we made.” He said this marked a fundamental shift from a confrontational posture to a more inclusive and democratic approach.

“We have worked to foster a democratic environment—shifting from a long-standing posture of viewing parties as opposition to embracing them as legitimate competitors,” he stated.

Prime Minister Abiy emphasized that this transformation is central to Ethiopia’s future. “This transformation is grounded in the belief that nurturing a culture of peaceful political contestation is vital to Ethiopia’s future,” he underscored.

He noted that, in line with this commitment, the government has sustained platforms for regular dialogue with political parties registered by the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE), providing space for parties to raise constituency concerns and contribute to national discourse.

“In line with this commitment, we have sustained ongoing dialogue platforms over the years with the numerous political parties registered by the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia,” he said.

“These discussions continued with political parties to gather input on the various concerns they raise on behalf of their constituencies,” he said, noting that similar meetings have recently been held with various stakeholders.

Today’s consultation with political parties is part of a broader series of engagements he held over the past couple of weeks with diverse stakeholder groups from across the country. Over the past couple of weeks, PM Abiy had meetings with representatives of the business community, teachers, and the art from across the country.

The consultations are part of the government’s wider effort to institutionalize peaceful political engagement and promote inclusive governance through sustained dialogue and mutual respect.