April 18, 2024
CECA
Press Release
The Congress of Ethiopian Civic Associations (CECA) proudly announces the public release of our yearlong study of the modalities of “systemic” political transition in Ethiopia, entitled “A Citizen-Centered Roadmap for Systemic Political Transition in Ethiopia.” We are committed to exploring, with the general public at home and abroad, thoughtful and win win solutions for the country’s existential political crises.
The Prosperity Party is on the verge of collapse in the face of growing revolts against a murderous regime. Since 1974, we have witnessed three regimes collapsing, ending as missed opportunities to usher in a robust democratic order. Since opportunity favors the prepared, we must rally this time around a sound and practicable roadmap for a minimally disruptive transition to an inclusive democratic constitutional order.
CECA is pleased to offer a forward-looking blueprint for a two-year transition that is thorough and homegrown. The pillars of the proposed transition modality are as follows:
• Given its remarkable popular base, rights orientation, and inclusiveness, a Fanno led negotiated settlement among armed groups to restore peace and security; • A Fanno-backed but independent and broadly representative national salvation council to issue a transition charter after suspending the current ethnocentric parliament and constitution;
• The national salvation council to oversee a caretaker government and elections for an interim parliament (Transition Shengo);
• The Transition Shengo, which doubles up as a Constituent Assembly, to establish several commissions (including truth, justice, reconciliation, border, and constitutional reform) to guide an institutional overhaul; and
• The transition period to end with free and fair elections based on a citizen-centered democratic constitution.
We invite all Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopia to engage with us to refine these ideas and prepare for their implementation. The document is now available in Amharic on several websites, including imbylta.org and abbabahrey.org. Thank you.
Contact: ceca.na2023@gmail.com