Ethiopia moves to remove constitutional right to secession amid major proposed reforms

Ethiopia has moved to amend key provisions of its Constitution, including the controversial article that gives the country’s regional states the right to secede from the federation.

The proposed changes have generated debate and public reaction, particularly over Article 39 of the Constitution, which recognises the right of nations, nationalities and peoples to self-determination, including secession. If the proposed amendment takes effect as reported, the constitutional provision allowing regional states to pursue secession would be removed.

The reforms also reportedly seek to formally recognise Amharic, Afaan Oromo, Somali, Tigrinya and Afar as working languages of the federal government. The move is expected to give the five major languages a formal role in government operations and reduce concerns over the dominance of particular languages in public administration.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has placed constitutional reform among the issues receiving increased attention from his administration. The proposed changes have also been viewed in the context of the longstanding tensions between Ethiopia’s federal government and its regional administrations over political and constitutional powers.

The issue of regional autonomy has been particularly sensitive since the outbreak of the Tigray conflict in 2020, when federal forces and the Tigray regional government became embroiled in a devastating war.

The conflict followed a political dispute over elections after the federal government postponed national elections amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Tigray proceeded with its own regional election despite the federal postponement, escalating tensions between the regional and federal authorities and eventually leading to armed confrontation.

The war resulted in extensive loss of life, destruction of infrastructure and large-scale displacement before the parties reached the Pretoria Cessation of Hostilities Agreement in November 2022.

The proposed constitutional changes therefore come at a politically sensitive time for Ethiopia, where the balance between federal authority and regional autonomy remains a major issue.

If enacted, the removal of the constitutional secession provision would represent a significant change to Ethiopia’s federal system and could reshape the relationship between the central government and the country’s regional states.

Mustaqbal