Despite promises of democratization and reform in 2018, Abiy’s leadership has increasingly shown authoritarian tendencies:
Centralization of power: Decision-making is concentrated in the Prime Minister’s office, with little institutional accountability.
Crackdown on dissent: Journalists, activists, and opposition figures across Ethiopia face arrests, censorship, or intimidation.
Election irregularities: The 2021 national election lacked full participation due to conflict and opposition boycotts, but was still used to claim a broad mandate.
This approach undermines democratic culture and closes space for compromise, both of which are essential in a multi-ethnic, divided country.2. One-Party Dominance and Weak Institutions
The Prosperity Party functions more like a hegemonic party than a democratic one:
The party has become the only real political force at the federal level, marginalizing other parties.
Regional states are increasingly dominated by PP-aligned elites rather than independent local leaders.
Key institutions (parliament, judiciary, election board) lack autonomy and are seen as extensions of executive power.
This suppresses political pluralism and fosters resentment in regions that feel their voices are ignored or overruled from the center.3. Ethnic Political Engineering
Though the PP claims to be multi-ethnic, critics argue it engages in ethnic political manipulation:
Selective alliances: The government co-opts certain ethnic elites while sidelining others, deepening inter-group rivalries.
Ethnic favoritism: Accusations persist that certain groups close to the central government are favored in political appointments, federal programs, or military leadership.
Top-down ethnic structuring: Rather than dismantling the toxic aspects of ethnic federalism, the PP is accused of re-engineering it from the top down, creating ethnic hierarchies within the federation.
This creates a perception that ethnic loyalty, not merit or unity, determines political legitimacy.4. Failure to Build National Consensus
Abiy’s leadership has largely rejected inclusive political dialogue in favor of central control:
No national reconciliation process has been held to address Ethiopia's deep-rooted ethnic, historical, and political divisions.
Dialogues are often symbolic or staged, rather than genuine power-sharing or conflict resolution efforts.
Civil society, religious leaders, traditional elders, and independent actors are sidelined.
As a result, many communities feel politically alienated, even when they’re not in open conflict.5. State vs. Society Tensions
The government’s authoritarian governance model assumes state-led nation-building, while society is deeply fragmented:
The regime has emphasized “Medemer” (synergy) as an ideology, but has not allowed the political space for society to define what unity means in practice.
Top-down unity efforts are not matched by grassroots inclusion or cultural negotiation.
This disconnect between government narrative and social reality leads to mistrust and passive resistance, especially in areas outside the conflict zones.6. Instrumental Use of Law and Security
The legal and security systems are increasingly being used as tools of political suppression:
Broad anti-terrorism or state-of-emergency laws are used to arrest political opponents.
Regional security forces are being restructured or disarmed without inclusive planning, leading to backlash.
Local governance is often overridden by appointed administrators loyal to the center.
This erodes the federal compact and weakens the principle of self-rule, which is foundational to Ethiopia’s federal constitution.