The Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party (EPRP), a significant political organization established in 1972, has become an active participant in Ethiopia’s politics over the past four years. This re-engagement culminated in their 11th general assembly under the theme of “Resilience Until Victory”, held in Hawassa, Sidama Regional State, from July 21 to 22, 2025.
During this assembly, the party selected its new president, Abraham Haimanot (MB), alongside Melake Kasa as deputy president and Mistereselassie Tamrat as secretary-general.
Abraham, a graduate of the School of Theology in Greece, where he specialized in Philosophy and Theology, has been an active member of the EPRP for the past eight years. His participation saw him rise to the position of vice chairman before his recent election as president.
Abraham believes the recent general assembly significantly advanced the party’s political ideology and organizational framework, allowing the EPRP to clearly articulate its dedication to fostering a democratic Ethiopia that upholds human rights and the rule of law.
In a ranging discussion with The Reporter’s Abraham Tekle, Abraham delved into crucial subjects such as the EPRP’s vision amidst Ethiopia’s current political landscape, its relationship with the federal government, the prevailing political tensions, human rights concerns, and potential avenues for achieving peace and stability, as well as the upcoming national election. EXCERPTS:
The Reporter: The EPRP recently concluded its general assembly, electing you as president. Could you elaborate on the key outcomes of this assembly beyond the leadership change? What new strategies or renewed commitments emerged from the discussions, and how do they reflect the party’s evolution and resilience in the current Ethiopian political landscape, especially given EPRP’s historical trajectory?
Abraham Haimanot (MB): For over five decades, our party has been a dynamic force in the nation’s political arena, initially pursuing a peaceful struggle even within constrained political environments, which eventually escalated into armed conflict. Throughout these fifty years, the party has convened eleven general assemblies, with four taking place domestically in Ethiopia and the remainder held abroad. Reflecting its long history, the party has continually refined its ideology and policies, adapting to each distinct era of political transition.
Among all the general assemblies the party has conducted, the most recent one stands out as a significant historical milestone. Notably, the transparent transition of power orchestrated by our former party president, Zinabu Abera [Prof.], allowed for the emergence of new leadership within the party. This practice is a rarity in African politics, where leaders of both governing and opposition parties often cling to power. Our party champions such actions as an exemplary model for other political organizations.
Following the general assembly, the party publicly issued an official apology for errors committed during its armed struggle in the 1970s, specifically about the urban warfare and assassinations that resulted in bloodshed—a disclosure made exclusively to The Reporter. Furthermore, following extensive deliberations, the assembly served as a platform for amending the party’s rules, regulations, and political programs, ensuring they align with the interests of the general public and are conducive to engaging in the country’s current political affairs through peaceful means.
Another crucial decision made by the party involves forming coalitions with other political entities. This collaborative effort began prior to the recent assembly, and includes alliances with parties such as Enat Party, All Ethiopia Unity Party [AEUP], and The Amhara Ghionians Movement. The party is now also in the process of forming coalitions with the Oromo Federalist Congress [OFC] and the Oromo Liberation Front [OLF], all aimed at strengthening their collective position for the upcoming national election.
The party outlines its commitment to a pluralist, democratic Ethiopia with respect for human rights and the rule of law in its programs. How does the newly elected leadership plan to operationalize this vision in the current political climate?
Our party envisions a multi-ethnic Ethiopia where diverse communities thrive together. We advocate for a true federal system that is fully respected. Guided by our social democratic ideology, we are committed to building a nation founded on social justice and equality, ensuring a strong middle class and an equitable distribution of wealth. Above all, we aim to establish a country that champions human rights, where all citizens live freely and equally. These core principles drive our party’s programs and policies, and we are dedicated to their implementation. We also possess a wealth of ideas to address the nation’s needs.
However, the current narrowed political landscape significantly impedes our ability to enact these vital programs and policies. Gaining political power has become incredibly challenging, as evidenced by the consistent denial of opportunities to hold public discussions and introduce our platforms to the public. A recent example is our latest general assembly, which we were forced to convene outside the capital. The government neither supported us nor provided access to essential resources like public media or a suitable venue, despite these being our fundamental rights.
What are your thoughts on the ruling party’s approach to engaging with differing ideologies? Could you explain the factors you believe are at play?
The ruling Prosperity Party appears to be apprehensive about engaging with divergent ideologies and opposition parties. It is often perceived as marginalizing parties that propose new ideas, while readily embracing those that offer praise or unquestioning support. For instance, prior to the last national election, the ruling party extended an offer for a governmental position to our party. We declined this offer, emphasizing our commitment to gaining power through legitimate political struggle and the strength of our party’s programs, rather than accepting appointments from the government.
Our stance remains unchanged: we are unwilling to participate in government without the implementation of our party’s core programs and policies. As a social democratic party, our aim is to secure public governance through the competition of ideas, not through unilateral offers from the ruling party. Historical precedent in Ethiopia shows a consistent pattern of governance, where ruling parties, including the current one, have exercised control without genuine public mandate but mischievously.
Therefore, our fundamental struggle is to ensure the ruling government embraces, rather than fears, differing ideologies. We are committed to achieving power through fair and genuine elections conducted on an equal political playing field. We are confident that with our robust political programs and policies, we will ultimately earn the public’s trust and become their chosen representatives.
The ruling party has been accused of power consolidation and suppressing dissent. How does the EPRP characterize its relationship with the federal government and the Prosperity Party? What avenues, if any, do you see for constructive engagement, and what are the primary obstacles to a more inclusive political dialogue with the ruling party?
Our party has consistently sought to engage in negotiations and consultations with the ruling party, offering various proposals for the nation’s betterment. For instance, just two days after my release from prison last year, the Prime Minister convened a meeting with political parties. During this discussion, one of our party members presented critical points and questions regarding his governance. However, the Prime Minister publicly insulted and belittled our party, and that member subsequently faced intimidation and harassment from party cadres, ultimately forcing her out of the political arena.
More recently, in another meeting with the Prime Minister, our party representatives were denied the opportunity to voice our concerns and questions. As a result, we withdrew from the meeting to demonstrate our disapproval of this lack of engagement. We’ve encountered numerous similar obstacles in our efforts to remain active in the political struggle. Despite these challenges, our party’s desire is to collaborate with the ruling government to resolve pressing issues, address ongoing conflicts, and end the human rights abuses currently plaguing our people, as we remain committed to being part of the solution to the country’s challenges.
What are the immediate and long-term priorities on your political roadmap, and what specific actions will the party take to advance these challenges?
Our party believes in fostering a constructive relationship with the government. We recognize the ruling party’s constitutional duty to respect and uphold the rights of all parties engaged in peaceful political struggle. As we are committed to pursuing a peaceful path, we urge the government to fulfill its constitutional obligations and address current challenges through open negotiations. Our door remains consistently open for dialogue with the federal government and to bring the most convenient political landscape in the country.
The ‘Caucus’ party coalition recently stated that Ethiopia is facing severe tensions, including the conflict between the federal government and the TPLF, and clashes in the Amhara and Oromia regions. What is EPRP’s assessment of these escalating conflicts? What specific solutions has your party put forward to address them?
It’s deeply saddening to witness the persistent conflict plaguing our country. Our party, along with others, has issued numerous statements imploring the government to end the war and allow our people to live in peace. Regrettably, the government consistently opts for military solutions over peaceful dialogue. We’ve voiced our strong disapproval of this approach for the past six years.
Our statements have denounced the conflicts in Tigray, Amhara, and Oromia, consistently calling for an end to hostilities. Despite this, our members have faced harassment and imprisonment. Our message has always been solely focused on achieving peace, recognizing that war devastates the economy and leads to tragic loss of life.
The devastating impact of the war in Tigray and the ongoing conflicts in Oromia and Amhara serve as stark evidence of this destruction. Consequently, our most recent joint statement again calls for an end to the war and urges all Ethiopians and stakeholders, including the international community, to join this crucial quest for peace.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) has declared Ethiopia’s access to the Red Sea an ‘existential matter’, with the government’s determination to realize maritime access contributing to heightened regional tensions. What is the EPRP’s stance on Ethiopia’s quest for sea access? Does your party support the current government’s approach, and what, in your view, is the most viable and peaceful path for Ethiopia to secure its maritime interests?
Our party’s stance on Eritrea is clearly outlined in our program: we view Eritrea as an integral part of Ethiopia, ideally through a federation or confederation system. We do not recognize its independence, largely because the Eritrean people were not adequately represented during the referendum. Furthermore, we consider the ruling party that permitted Eritrea’s secession, as part of the transitional government, to have lacked the necessary legitimacy to make such a monumental decision. At that time, the fundamental question should have revolved around a system of federation or confederation, not outright independence.
Even if Eritrea’s independence were to be accepted, we unequivocally assert that the Port of Assab rightfully belongs to Ethiopia, both historically and by legitimate claim. During the Italian occupation of Eritrea, they demarcated Assab as part of Ethiopia, and colonially established boundaries are a recognized factor in territorial demarcation and independence. As mentioned, the then-ruling party [EPRDF] was not a legitimately elected government, and therefore lacked the mandate to make such a profound decision regarding Assab.
Consequently, we maintain that Assab is part of Ethiopia, and our party believes this can be achieved through adherence to international principles and regulations.
Beyond this, the EPRP does not endorse or support the Ethiopian government’s pursuit of war to resolve the issue of sea access. We firmly believe that peace and diplomatic engagement are the only viable solutions. Moreover, we view the ruling party’s current interest in this matter not as a legitimate national quest, but rather as a politically motivated tactic to divert attention and consolidate power.
With national elections on the horizon, how is the EPRP’s preparedness for this crucial electoral process? What are your key concerns regarding the fairness and inclusivity of the upcoming elections, and what steps is the party taking to ensure its effective participation and to promote a truly democratic outcome?
Our party firmly believes in a peaceful political struggle and is diligently working towards the upcoming election, including through collaboration with other political parties across the country. While we maintain a strong individual party organization, we recognize that forming party coalitions is crucial for electoral success. It’s often stated that Ethiopia has over 70 political parties; however, many of these are superficial, originating at the Kebele and Woreda levels, and we are confident they will not genuinely participate in the next national election. This is because a significant number appear to be organized with the ruling party’s tacit approval, seemingly designed to mislead the public. We do not consider these a genuine threat.
However, we acknowledge the presence of other robust parties genuinely competing for the national election, such as ENAT Party, AEUP, the Amhara Ghionians Movement, and the OFC. As previously stated, we are actively forging strategic alliances with these parties to become a formidable force in the upcoming national election. We are also pursuing a unified party coalition under a single name with parties like ENAT, given their largely similar party ideologies. We are also diligently working to cultivate a more conducive political landscape within the country.
