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Facts about Addis Ababa city residents’ committee “Bale-Adera”
BY YEAHUN
Some people give different name tags for the Addis Ababa residents committee “Bale-Adera” for different reasons. Some people are also confused who assigned the committee as ‘a care taker’, Bale-Adera for the city. Some still do not know what this committee is fighting for. We at Yeahun Zena tried to collect some facts about the Bale-Adera for clarification. Here are the points.
When was the Bale-Adera committee formed?
The committee was formed in April 2019. During the formation, over 10,000 residents of Addis Ababa have been observed marching to the meeting hall called “Balderas Hall” where the organizers called for public participation.
Who initiated the Bale Adera?
The Addis Ababa residents committee, Bale Adera sometimes called “Balderas” was first initiated by the world award winner and nine times prisoner of concise, Ethiopian journalist Eskinder Nega. Later, he was joined by many professionals and ordinary citizens of the city.
Why the Bale-Adera committee is needed?
The current Ethiopia’s constitution gives the residents of Addis Ababa the right to elect their own leaders and administrators. However, since the constitution took place in 1995, Addis Ababa residents have never elect their own mayors and administrators. Instead, the ruling party, the Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) nominates its own members from different parts of the country those who never lived in the city.
Having this major claim, the initiators of the Bale-Adera begun to raise the question “Addis Aabab must be administered by the people elected by the resident”.
What happened during the April first meeting?
During the April 10 meeting at Balderas Hall, the participants of the meeting have mentioned several issues that affected them for years that include political, economic and social.
They also discussed the current mayor of the city who was directly assigned by the new prime minister who brought him from the neighboring city of Addis Ababa They said, during the meeting, “The mayor is illegal” because, one, he is not elected by the resident, second and for mots, the duration of the mayor to stay in office is already expired and there should be another election. But the prime minister extended his stay against the city’s charter.
“The Special Interest” issue that is confusing to many people which is mentioned in the constitution was also discussed. The EFDRE constitution gives Oromia region a right to claim a special interest from the Addis Ababa city. Residents defended this article during the meeting by saying “Addis Ababa city belongs to everyone who lives in here. No special interest can be calculated to any other body outside the city.
The participants of the meeting chosen board members for the committee and elected journalist Eskinder Nega as a chairman and also other members of the committee.
Why the committee is named “Bale-Adera” [A Care-Taker] or {Responsible}?
During the meeting, the participants pin-points that must be handled by the committee. One of them is chasing any political group that have an agenda of “especial interest” during election times not be voted. They also gave the responsibility to the Bale-Adera to facilitate and/or help any political party that has zero agenda of “especial interest” and who gives the residents the right to elect their own mayor and administrators from the residents only. For all the above and some other points that the committee is responsible, it is named as “A Care taker, a responsible” which means “Bale-Adera” in Amharic.
Is Bale-Adera a political party or group?
No! Bale-Adera works for the residents of Addis Ababa rights as a civil association. The Bale-Adera doesn’t participate in any political activity or run elections
BY YEAHUN
Some people give different name tags for the Addis Ababa residents committee “Bale-Adera” for different reasons. Some people are also confused who assigned the committee as ‘a care taker’, Bale-Adera for the city. Some still do not know what this committee is fighting for. We at Yeahun Zena tried to collect some facts about the Bale-Adera for clarification. Here are the points.
When was the Bale-Adera committee formed?
The committee was formed in April 2019. During the formation, over 10,000 residents of Addis Ababa have been observed marching to the meeting hall called “Balderas Hall” where the organizers called for public participation.
Who initiated the Bale Adera?
The Addis Ababa residents committee, Bale Adera sometimes called “Balderas” was first initiated by the world award winner and nine times prisoner of concise, Ethiopian journalist Eskinder Nega. Later, he was joined by many professionals and ordinary citizens of the city.
Why the Bale-Adera committee is needed?
The current Ethiopia’s constitution gives the residents of Addis Ababa the right to elect their own leaders and administrators. However, since the constitution took place in 1995, Addis Ababa residents have never elect their own mayors and administrators. Instead, the ruling party, the Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) nominates its own members from different parts of the country those who never lived in the city.
Having this major claim, the initiators of the Bale-Adera begun to raise the question “Addis Aabab must be administered by the people elected by the resident”.
What happened during the April first meeting?
During the April 10 meeting at Balderas Hall, the participants of the meeting have mentioned several issues that affected them for years that include political, economic and social.
They also discussed the current mayor of the city who was directly assigned by the new prime minister who brought him from the neighboring city of Addis Ababa They said, during the meeting, “The mayor is illegal” because, one, he is not elected by the resident, second and for mots, the duration of the mayor to stay in office is already expired and there should be another election. But the prime minister extended his stay against the city’s charter.
“The Special Interest” issue that is confusing to many people which is mentioned in the constitution was also discussed. The EFDRE constitution gives Oromia region a right to claim a special interest from the Addis Ababa city. Residents defended this article during the meeting by saying “Addis Ababa city belongs to everyone who lives in here. No special interest can be calculated to any other body outside the city.
The participants of the meeting chosen board members for the committee and elected journalist Eskinder Nega as a chairman and also other members of the committee.
Why the committee is named “Bale-Adera” [A Care-Taker] or {Responsible}?
During the meeting, the participants pin-points that must be handled by the committee. One of them is chasing any political group that have an agenda of “especial interest” during election times not be voted. They also gave the responsibility to the Bale-Adera to facilitate and/or help any political party that has zero agenda of “especial interest” and who gives the residents the right to elect their own mayor and administrators from the residents only. For all the above and some other points that the committee is responsible, it is named as “A Care taker, a responsible” which means “Bale-Adera” in Amharic.
Is Bale-Adera a political party or group?
No! Bale-Adera works for the residents of Addis Ababa rights as a civil association. The Bale-Adera doesn’t participate in any political activity or run elections
Organizer and beneficiary
Dawit Gebeyehu
Organizer
Alexandria, VA
SHIMELIS LEGESE
Beneficiary
