Uneven Playing Field: Understanding Abiy Ahmed Manipulation of Democracy in Ethiopia

Abstract: This study seeks to investigate how prime minister Abiy Ahmed have affected democracy in Ethiopia since he assumed office in April 2018. Ethiopia is a hybrid regime identified with having both democratic and autocratic elements and the country have been internationally acknowledged for its recent democratic progress. The case study is conducted with a structured qualitative textual analysis in the form of a qualitative content analysis. Information have been collected according to a coding frame based on the concept of an uneven playing field and of how an incumbent party benefit from promoting gender equality. The results show that the playing field was initially slightly leveled and the oppositions ability to more equally compete for power with the government was improved. However, as the opposition was empowered and ethnic conflict arose in late 2018 the government under the lead of Abiy Ahmed returned to repressive tactics used under previous regimes to manipulate the playing field. The government is trying to remain in power by once again limiting democracy. Yet, the study concludes that the playing field has overall been leveled but the fruitfulness that Ethiopian democracy once promised under the rule of Abiy Ahmed seems to have vanished.