‘We Are Everywhere’: How Ethiopia Became a Land of Prying Eyes
- 7 years ago
‘We Are Everywhere’: How Ethiopia Became a Land of Prying Eyes
In a country whose rugged landscape is larger in area than France
and Germany combined, Ethiopia’s ruling party — which, with its allies, controls every seat in Parliament — relies on a vast network of millions of party members like Mr. Alene as useful agents and sources of information, according to current and former government officials and academics who study the country.
Fendika, where Mr. Alene keeps watch, was largely insulated from riots last year, partly thanks to
his diligent work of converting half the village, made up of ethnic Amharas, to the ruling party.
Alene said that Even in these violent times, this kebele has been peaceful,
There’s no choice." Mr. Alene had made amends with the neighbor he forced to buy fertilizer at gunpoint,
and the two men recently sat next to each other at the village pub.
If that doesn’t work out, we report to the police." Mr. Alene, who has been a member
of the ruling party since it swept to power in 1991, recruits villagers to join.
"It’s impressive, but it also exhibits a very authoritarian state present on the ground to an extent unseen in Ethiopian history." In rural areas, "one-to-fives"
allow a designated model farmer, like Mr. Alene, to teach best practices, including the merits of using fertilizer, and be rewarded when output increases.
In a country whose rugged landscape is larger in area than France
and Germany combined, Ethiopia’s ruling party — which, with its allies, controls every seat in Parliament — relies on a vast network of millions of party members like Mr. Alene as useful agents and sources of information, according to current and former government officials and academics who study the country.
Fendika, where Mr. Alene keeps watch, was largely insulated from riots last year, partly thanks to
his diligent work of converting half the village, made up of ethnic Amharas, to the ruling party.
Alene said that Even in these violent times, this kebele has been peaceful,
There’s no choice." Mr. Alene had made amends with the neighbor he forced to buy fertilizer at gunpoint,
and the two men recently sat next to each other at the village pub.
If that doesn’t work out, we report to the police." Mr. Alene, who has been a member
of the ruling party since it swept to power in 1991, recruits villagers to join.
"It’s impressive, but it also exhibits a very authoritarian state present on the ground to an extent unseen in Ethiopian history." In rural areas, "one-to-fives"
allow a designated model farmer, like Mr. Alene, to teach best practices, including the merits of using fertilizer, and be rewarded when output increases.