Democratic backsliding in Ethiopia

Democratic backsliding in Ethiopia is ongoing, most notably under the administration of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Since he assumed power in April 2018, Ahmed has played a crucial role in reforms in Ethiopian politics and the reversal of policies implemented by the former ruling party, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). Abiy immediately gained public approval and international recognition owing to liberalized policymaking, including in media outlets, gender equality, internet freedom, and privatization of the economy. Further, he was also warmly praised for ending the 20-year conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea, for which he was awarded the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize—being the first Ethiopian to earn the title. In 2019, Ethiopia received a score of 19 out of 100 in the Freedom in the World metric, a significant improvement from previous years, although it is still characterized as "Not Free". In December 2019, he formed the Prosperity Party by the dissolution of EPRDF and merged all its ethnic-based regional parties while the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) refused to obey, resulting intense face-off with the federal government. He promised to hold a free and fair upcoming election; however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, deterioration, and other security and logistics issues, the election was postponed indefinitely in mid-2020. Opponents called this action a backdrop to "reconsolidate dictatorship" and "constitutional crisis". On 9 September 2020, the Tigray Regional election was held in what the federal government deemed an illegal election. According to the electoral commission, the TPLF won 98.2% of the 152 seats that were contested. The federal government and the Tigray authority's relations were aggravated by late 2020, culminating in the Tigray War.

Domestically, democracy has been eroded since the rise of armed conflicts in the country. Abiy's government declined to execute public order, and political persecution sporadically appeared by 2021. As of June 2022, 18 journalists and dissidents were jailed for allegedly disseminating misinformation to "undermine his government". By 2021, 46 journalists were detained, making Ethiopia the worst jailer in Africa, with many subjected to forced disappearance.