Washington – December 13, 2018 — In response to Ethiopia being selected for the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s (MCC) threshold program, which assists countries to become eligible for substantial MCC financial support, Freedom House issued the following statement:
“The MCC’s new focus on Ethiopia is a well-deserved acknowledgement of the progress Ethiopia has made in opening political space, advancing freedom of expression and promoting peace in the Horn of Africa region,” said Jon Temin, director of Africa Programs at Freedom House. “The government of Ethiopia should take this acknowledgement and the potential support that comes with it as an opportunity to press ahead with additional essential reforms. In particular, the government should accelerate adoption of the civil society organizations proclamation, strengthen the rule of law, and address the root causes of long-standing ethnic unrest. Critically, the government should reaffirm its commitment to a free and fair elections in 2020 by rolling out a comprehensive electoral roadmap agreed upon by all major political actors.”
Ethiopia is rated Not Free in Freedom in the World 2018, Not Free in Freedom of the Press 2017, and Not Free in Freedom on the Net 2017.
