Community Participation in Security Sector Governance in Post-1991 Ethiopia: The Case of Dire Dawa City Administration
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Date
2019-06
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Addis Ababa University,
Abstract
In post-1991 Ethiopia, the power center that controls all political groups, is guided by a
centrally defined ideology and systematically mobilizes its citizens to realize it, signifying the
post-1991 Ethiopia has all attributes of an authoritarian regime. The state underwent major
restructuring at the beginning of the 1990s, taking a federal system which replaced a highly centralized state. More specifically, the Ethiopian security sector has been transformed; political
changes that happened in the country has led to a new notion of threats and security needs, and
the institutional and structural policy framework of the country’s security agencies was brought
into position with the new federal system of government. Post-1991, the Transitional
Government Charter and FDREnew Constitution brings a new democracy friendly laws and
orders which contains a bill of rights which guaranteed freedom, equality and social justice.
However, this democratization process has faced implementation challenges and problems from
its running bodies.
Thisthesis tried to explore the structural and institutional framework for community
participation in Ethiopia in general and in Dire Dawa in particular. It tried to identify the extent
of public participation, possible opportunities and challenges. It also tried to analyze the
effectiveness and efficiency of Dire Dawa police in delivering the security services.The thesis
used both primary and secondary sources while conducting the study. The thesis employed
triangulation research method i.e. both quantitative and qualitative methods to get balanced and
comprehensive answer to the research questions and also fill one’s weakness by the other. The
thesis is mainly challenged by the availability of both primary and secondary sources.
For this reason, the people’s role or participation in matters of political as well as security
remained low both at national level and in Dire Dawa.The study found that there has been
structural and institutional shift of paradigm for the need of institutionalizing people’s
participation in the security sector governance. In Dire Dawa community policing was
implemented in creating space for inclusive community participation. But, this has faced
practical implementation problems because it is a top-down approach which is mainly organized
based on committee loyal to political ideology of the ruling party.
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Keywords
Governance, security, security sector governance, Public participation, community policing.