The evolving political dynamics in Ethiopia

The recent political developments in Ethiopia have generated renewed efforts for reform in the country. Ethiopians and the international community are witnessing rapidly evolving events and changes of a strategic nature by the new government that seek to reunify the country.

Events witnessed in Ethiopia have brought changes to the entire Horn of Africa with many surprising twists. The shift in relations and the rapprochement between Ethiopia and Eritrea, now widely accepted, is attributable to the changes in Ethiopia and in part to high-level contacts mediated by the Gulf governments.

The rapprochement between Ethiopia and Eritrea has triggered an initiative that looks into a new regional integration between Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea. This has implications for regional alliances and the way IGAD functions, and require serious scrutiny.

Accordingly, this public seminar will look at the political, economic and social impact of the changes in Ethiopia and their impact on peace and security in the region. The most important factors that have evolved, and highlight the scenarios of those trends on the IGAD region and their implications.

Dr. Abdeta Dribssa Beyene, Director, Centre for Dialogue, Research and Cooperation (CDRC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
www.cdrcethiopia.org

Dr. Lovise Aalen, Research Director at CMI, responsible for the research groups Humanitarianism, Aid and Borders (HAB) and Democracy and Governance.