Ethiopia 1987
Ethiopia had been swept by civil wars from the time Major Mengistu established a social revolutionary regime in 1974 through the ratification of the constitution in1987. In the mid 1980’s, widespread famine due to the civil wars caused over two million people to leave their homes in Ethiopia and seek asylum in neighboring nations. In l986, party in an attempt to quell the civil wars, the Central Committee of the Worker’s Party of Ethiopia, Mengistu’s party, issued a decree to draft a constitution that would include provisions to give some autonomy to rebellious groups.
The country had neither a legislature nor a constitution. The Worker’s Party of Ethiopia, reflecting the will of Mengistu, appointed members to serve on a Constitutional Commission. Of the 343 members to the commission, WPE appointed local authorities, religious leaders, and members of major economic and social groups and 122 members from the WPE Central Committee. Staff from the Ethiopian Nationalities Research Institute prepared initial drafts and provided research material to the Commission. Preparation of the initial draft took seven months. 122 members were eligible to vote on the final language with votes cast on individual provisions. The final constitution resembled the constitution of the USSR, a country that had supported Ethiopia in wars over the Ogaden region although with a stronger presidency.
The plenary sessions of the commission were broadcast while the Commission prepared the draft. The Commission distributed 1 million copies of the draft constitution in 15 languages in preparation for an educational campaign. There was an effort to reach rural areas. The provision outlawing polygamy was eliminated in response to protest from the Muslim community. Groups hotly debated nationality issues and the need for some form of federalism in government. After two months of public debate, the WPE called a referendum for February 1, l987. 96% of the voters turned out even though voting was difficult in the strongholds of the opposition armies. 50% of the vote was needed to ratify the constitution. 81% voted in favor, 18% were opposed, and 1% were spoiled. The constitution went into force on February 22, l987 the day the new People’s Democratic Republic of Ethiopia was declared.