In Review of African Political Economy – Vol. 22 No. 63 (March 1995)
“Ethiopia Elects a Constituent Assembly” By Kassahun Berhanu

On 5 June 1994, the Ethiopian people went to the polls to elect a Constituent Assembly empowered to ratify the incumbent constitution. This body was expected to approve a constitutional framework for a new, decentralized political system, which seeks to enshrine the notion of voluntary union between ethnically defined regions. This was a major departure for Africa in that it startbs by recognizing different nationalities and even allows, under complicated conditions, for the right of self-determination up to and including secession.