The multi-agency security teams, acting on credible intelligence, launched a pre-dawn operation on Al-Shabaab militants who were planning to terrorise Kenyans using the Alungu-Elwak road, Mandera County, officials said, while confirming the incident, Tuesday. According to the officers, the [militants] were also in the final stages of placing explosives on the main road targeting civilian vehicles. It is the norm of the militants to plant explosives on major link roads within the northeastern parts of the country…The incident comes a day after the Mandera County leadership held a high-level meeting with the regional administration of Jubbaland in Kismayo, with security within the region featuring predominantly during the encounter. Jubbaland’s First Vice President, Mahmoud Sayid Aden, met with the Governor of Mandera County, Adan Khalif, in Kismayo to discuss shared security concerns along the porous frontier, where the al-Shabaab militant group continues to threaten lives, trade, and regional stability. (Garowe Online)
Total shareholder return (TSR)
Total shareholder return (TSR) is a measure of financial performance, indicating the total amount an investor reaps from an investment—specifically, equities or shares of stock. To arrive at its total, usually expressed as a percentage, TSR factors in capital gains and dividends from a stock; it might also include special distributions, stock splits, and warrants.
2025: Reflecting on Ethiopia’s Political and Economic Journey Two Decades After the 2005 Election
2025 marks 20 years since the 2005 national election—a moment that ignited hope on the country’s democracy.  Ethiopia had also a big goal: reaching middle-income status by 2025. With so much change anticipated, it’s important to ask—how far has Ethiopia come? What lessons are there to learn? And what’s next for this nation?
Leading up to 2005, Ethiopia was eager to prove itself on the world stage. The election was seen as a test of democracy, with multiple parties and candidates running for office. Citizens were hopeful that this vote would bring genuine change. It was the first time many Ethiopians seriously believed their vote could lead to power changes at the national level. It marked a moment when politics went from controlled to something more competitive.
But the election ensued conflicts. There were claims of fraud, intimidation, and suppression. Some opposition parties accused the government of meddling with results. International observers raised concerns about fairness. These issues sparked protests and unrest across the country.
As a response, the then government launched crackdown, marking a turbulent period that overshadowed the promise of democratic governance.
Since 2005, Ethiopia has experienced rapid growth. The country’s GDP expanded about 10% annually in some years. Poverty fell significantly, and infrastructure projects like roads, schools, and hospitals spread across the nation. Agriculture remains vital, but manufacturing and services now contribute more. The government also invested heavily in big projects, such as the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, to boost energy supplies.
Ethiopia aimed to join the middle-income club by 2025. By some measures, the country made real progress. It lowered poverty and improved living standards in many areas. Still, Ethiopia faced big hurdles. The country’s debt increased, partly due to large infrastructure projects. Rural-urban gap widens as cities grow faster than towns. Inflation and investment climate issues also slowed progress.
The dissatisfaction in political and economic progress led to mass protests which forced leadership change. The political reform, as the socio-political and economic changes under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s (PhD) administration have popularly been known as change once again raised hope and expectation. However, due political setbacks and conflicts rather than a straightforward transition to democracy, the country saw escalating tensions.
Today Ethiopia struggles to balance security and freedom. On one hand, stability is essential to growth; on the other, democratic reforms require open debate and citizen participation. Some areas suffer from conflicts and ethnic tensions. These issues make running a unified Ethiopia difficult. Without peace, democratic progress can stall.
Ethiopia has made some gains. There’s more space for free media and civil society. But problems remain— restrictions and lack of fully independent institutions. Building trust needs ongoing reforms. Citizens should have a real say in their government. This way, democracy deepens beyond just elections.
To grow stronger, Ethiopia must develop inclusive governance. That means including diverse groups in decision-making. Strengthening institutions like courts and watchdog agencies is vital. Also, building civic skills and encouraging active participation keep democracy healthy. The goal is a country where all voices matter and leaders are accountable.
Progress depends on strong leadership and stable institutions. Success stories prove that investments in infrastructure, education, and industry pay off. But ignoring social divides and political unrest can derail efforts. The country needs balanced policies that nurture growth and peace.
Going forward, Ethiopia should prioritize transparency and fairness. Promoting political pluralism and protecting basic rights are crucial. Economic diversification beyond agriculture will reduce risks. Embracing new technologies—like digital services—can open new growth avenues. Ensuring regional stability and engaging with international partners will boost efforts for a better future.
As Ethiopia marks 20 years since the 2005 election, it’s time to reflect. The end of two decades since 2005 reveals some progress and ongoing problems. Ethiopia must continue reforms—political, economic, and social. Only with inclusive policies and resilient institutions can the country build a future that benefits all citizens.
Ethiopia’s journey since the 2005 election is a story of hope, setbacks, and resilience. Learning from past experiences can help Ethiopia shape a more stable, fair, and prosperous future. The key is ongoing commitment from leaders and citizens alike. Everyone must work together to make Ethiopia’s next chapter a better one.
Shewangezaw Seyoum is a senior consultant at the Ethiopian Management Institute. Views expressed here do not reflect that of the institution. He can be reached at swsm02@yahoo.com.
Cultivated Stupidity and Economic Development
In the discourse on economic development, attention is often given to factors such as infrastructure, policy, investment, education, and innovation. However, one insidious barrier frequently escapes scrutiny: cultivated stupidity – a deliberate or systemic discouragement of critical thinking, curiosity, and intellectual independence. While this may seem abstract or even conspiratorial, cultivated stupidity is a very real phenomenon, manifesting in institutions, cultural norms, and governance structures that prioritize compliance over comprehension, simplicity over depth, and loyalty over truth. Its long-term effects on economic development are profound and multifaceted.
Cultivated stupidity is not mere ignorance. Ignorance is a lack of knowledge that can be corrected with education or experience. Cultivated stupidity, by contrast, is the active shaping of thought to avoid inconvenient truths, suppress dissent, and maintain hierarchical power. It often arises when elites – whether political, corporate, or ideological – find it beneficial to keep the populace unquestioning and docile.
It is cultivated through: education systems that emphasize rote memorization over critical analysis; media ecosystems that prioritize sensationalism and ideological echo chambers over investigative journalism; corporate cultures that reward conformity and discourage whistleblowing or innovation and political rhetoric that frames expertise as elitism and reduces complex issues to tribal binaries.
Cultivated Stupidity undermines economic development in a number of ways: Erosion of Human Capital – Economic development depends on a skilled, adaptable, and creative workforce. But when systems reward passivity and discourage independent thought, talent is stifled. Students may graduate with credentials but lack the ability to question assumptions, solve novel problems, or collaborate across disciplines. Innovation flattens; productivity gains stagnate.
Policy Paralysis and Poor Governance – in democracies, a misinformed electorate can vote against its own economic interests. In autocracies, cultivated stupidity fosters obedience but eliminates valuable feedback loops. When technocratic expertise is devalued or silenced, policies become less evidence-based and more ideologically driven. Long-term planning suffers, and corruption flourishes under the cover of confusion.
Suppression of Innovation – innovation thrives on dissent, debate, and experimentation – all things discouraged in a culture of cultivated stupidity. In such an environment, disruptive ideas are seen as threats rather than opportunities. Entrepreneurs who question norms are often marginalized, and venture capital favors short-term profit over long-term value creation.
Vulnerability to External Manipulation – a populace trained to avoid critical thinking is more susceptible to propaganda, misinformation, and digital manipulation. This not only undermines domestic stability but makes nations vulnerable to foreign influence, cyberattacks, and economic coercion. These vulnerabilities translate into real costs in terms of national security and investor confidence.
There are several Case Studies and illustrations: Soviet-era Russia: While producing world-class scientists and engineers, the broader society was kept in a state of intellectual suppression. This mismatch ultimately limited the translation of innovation into widespread economic development.
Modern populist regimes: Several countries today exhibit trends where science is politicized, education is hollowed out, and media is tightly controlled. The short-term economic performance may hold, but the long-term damage to institutional trust and cognitive capacity is severe.
Corporate cultures: Major corporate failures – from Enron to the 2008 financial crisis – have been traced to cultures where questioning leadership was career suicide. These were not merely financial collapses but epistemic ones.
To counter cultivated stupidity and foster genuine economic development, societies must reform education to prioritize critical thinking and interdisciplinary problem-solving, protect and elevate independent journalism, encourage scientific literacy and public debate as well as create institutional incentives for truth-telling, transparency, and innovation.
Economic development is not just a function of resources and capital- it is deeply tied to the cognitive health of a society. A nation that cultivates curiosity, skepticism, and intellectual courage will always outgrow one that cultivates stupidity.
To conclude, cultivated stupidity is a quiet toxin in the bloodstream of economic development. It seeps into institutions, undermines potential, and makes future prosperity a mirage. If ignored, it will corrode the very foundations of progress. But if confronted – with humility, bold reform, and a commitment to truth – it can be reversed. The battle for development, then, is as much intellectual as it is financial.
