A coalition of opposition parties in Ethiopia has issued a sharp condemnation of the ruling Prosperity Party, calling on the public to mount a broad-based civic struggle to “salvage the nation” from escalating internal conflict, authoritarianism, and political paralysis.
In a joint statement released on Sunday under the banner of the Opposition Political Parties Caucus, the group accused the federal government of leading Ethiopia into an “existential crisis,” citing intensifying civil unrest in the Amhara, Oromia, and Tigray regions. The statement was titled “There is no profitable war, no losing peace; let the war end, and let peace and democracy prevail.”
The coalition contends that the Prosperity Party’s governance has led to a breakdown in state-society relations, triggering what they describe as a “popular struggle for existence and democracy” across key regions. The bloc also expressed strong opposition to holding the upcoming seventh national elections, scheduled for next year, amid what they called a climate of lawlessness and fear.
“It is impossible to speak of a meaningful election while the country remains in such chaos,” the statement read, warning that conducting elections under current conditions would lack both legitimacy and public trust.
Electoral Board Under Fire
The statement further accused the government of undermining the independence of Ethiopia’s National Electoral Board, pointing to recent leadership changes and controversial amendments to electoral laws. According to the opposition, these moves are intended to tilt the electoral process in favor of the ruling party.
“Unless the Board’s legal mandate and institutional capacity are fully restored, any talk of preparing for elections is meaningless,” the parties asserted.
Call for National Unity and Resistance
Framing their appeal as a national duty, the opposition urged citizens across political and ethnic lines to join what they described as a peaceful, broad-based resistance movement — both within Ethiopia and abroad.
“The current threat to Ethiopia’s existence is universal. No citizen is exempt. A common responsibility has befallen all of us — to rise and rescue our nation,” the statement declared.
The coalition invoked the legacy of the former Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), accusing it of sowing the seeds of the current crisis through decades of unilateral governance and resistance to inclusive reform. They now warn that the Prosperity Party, under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, is repeating similar patterns of “stubbornness and arrogance,” risking further fragmentation of the country.
The parties urged all peaceful political actors to unite without preconditions, and called on the government to initiate a credible, inclusive, and transparent national dialogue.
Warning to Foreign Powers
In a veiled rebuke of unnamed international actors, the statement condemned what it called “destructive foreign interference” in Ethiopian affairs. The coalition called on external powers to refrain from actions that may exacerbate the country’s internal divisions or embolden authoritarian tendencies.
“The government must disengage from the influence of foreign supporters driving the nation toward destruction,” the parties warned.
The call to action comes at a time of growing concern over Ethiopia’s fragile security situation, mounting humanitarian needs, and a stalled political transition that once promised wide-reaching reforms.
