A/HRC/44/49/Add.3 Comments by the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia 1. Paragraph 2- References to Ministers of Peace and of Innovation and Technology should be made as “Ministers” and not “Federal Ministers” since there are no ministerial posts at regional levels 2. Paragraph 5 line 11– Ethiopia is not in the process of considering a legislation related to “use of force during protests”. Rather, the draft legislation is on “police use of force and accountability” in general. 3. Paragraph 6 lines 1 and 2– the date for the next national election, although it was previously announced provisionally to take place on 16 August 2020 by the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE), the latter has announced on February 14, 2020 for the election to take place on 29 August 2020. In a latest development, we would like to inform the SR that after conducting a detailed assessment of the impact Covid-19 would have on its operation, NEBE decided to cancel the current electoral calendar and suspend elections operations of the coming national elections planned to be conducted in August 2020. It has also reported these developments to the house of people’s representative. Thus, the report requires updating as per the latest information from NEBE. 4. On Paragraph 7 line 4, regarding the reference in relation to ‘Inter-ethnic clashes’, paragraph 29 line 3 on ‘inter-ethnic division’ and paragraph 54 on ‘Inter-ethnic intolerance’, we have found that the assessment lacks objectivity and implies an undesirable outlook on the very fabric of Ethiopia. Diversity is embraced as a beauty and strength of the nation and no single ethnic group has felt threatened by others. There were few attempts by rogue elements who were removed from public offices due to the grand reform. These detractors have desperately been causing mal administration while unlawfully enriching themselves. Once they are removed from the system, they anticipated that accountability is imminent and engaged what conflict entrepreneurs normally does- instigating skirmishes which are short-lived. We would like to underscore that there was no ethnic-to-ethnic or people-to-people conflicts in Ethiopia. We do not subscribe to the assertion that the existence of a unified Ethiopia as a nation was threatened as stated in the report. There are countless components that bound us together and our destiny is entwined to one another. This is the fact and what has been buttressed during the people to people conferences held across the nation. 5. Paragraph 7- the government is blamed to have failed to take necessary steps to protect human lives and hold perpetrators of current or past human rights violations to account. At the outset, the government is cognizant of these concerns and is deeply saddened by the senseless act of violence that had occurred. However, this presumption falls short of recognizing the general context. As it is evident to all closely observing the unfolding developments in Ethiopia, what the reform under the leadership of H.E Dr. Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia have brought is a quantum leap in many fronts. It has committed itself for a smooth transition while avoiding escalation, harness healing and preservation of law and order. The government of Ethiopia approaches this concern from different perspectives: First, we believe that the said commentators are juxtaposing measures taken by the previous government and the one being implemented. As it was clearly evident, it is unfortunate that our people were exposed to extreme measures during the previous administration’s tenure. This has crystalized into a norm in some minds which resulted in attaching justice and rule of law with needless violence against body and lives. It takes too much of a patience to balance a polarized concept of rule of law vis a vis the delicate task of transitioning the nation. Second, one sided assessment frequently leads into a lopsided conclusion. Essentially, there are calls from the public for the preservation of justice and rule of law which the government fully appreciates. Nevertheless, there is a corrupt concept of serving justice among different interest groups. A given constituency will call for measures against its perceived adversary 2