Ethiopia may fail to deliver on transitional justice

Significance The policy includes some changes from the justice ministry’s initial draft, most significantly the removal of a proposal for a special court to prosecute the most serious crimes. These changes have amplified questions about the likely effectiveness of the policy in holding those in power to account. Impacts The government may try to use the threat of prosecution under the policy to deter political dissent. The government may hope adopting the policy aids its efforts to repair relations with Western donors and progress debt relief talks. Questions will arise over how the policy will relate to the work of the National Dialogue Commission.