The BBC’s flagship World Service Radio debate programme, World Questions, comes to Ethiopia at a crucial time in the country’s history.
Ethiopia’s prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, has initiated a series of unprecedented reforms in his first year in office.He has made peace with Eritrea; freed 60,000 political prisoners, unbanned opposition groups once deemed terrorist organisations; and appointed women to half his cabinet. He has pledged free elections in 2020 and made a prominent opposition activist head of the electoral commission. He now faces one of his biggest challenges - moving the economy from state-led to market-based growth while overseeing far-reaching political reforms. If Abiy Ahmed succeeds, Ethiopia will cement its position as one of Africa’s biggest players.
The BBC’s Jonathan Dimbleby will be joined by a panel of leading Ethiopian politicians and thinkers in a debate, in English, led by questions from a public audience at the Hilton Hotel in Addis Ababa on Monday, 6th May.
The four panelists are:
- His Excellency Mustafa Omer – President of the Somali Regional State
- Professor Merera Gudina - Oromo People's Congress
- Tsedale Lemma - Editor of The Addis Standard
- Eskinder Nega - Journalist and campaigner
Join them, and have your say in a debate that will be heard around the world. The event starts at 18.00 and will consist of a reception, an artistic performance and the debate. Guests are kindly requested to arrive at 18.00. The event will conclude by 20.30.
BBC World Questions is a series of events delivered in partnership with the British Council.
As a cultural relations and educational organisation and partner of the BBC World Service, the British Council helps to enable a platform where the general public can join a democratic debate on a global forum.
BBC World Service delivers news content around the world in English and 41 other language services, on radio, TV and digital, reaching a weekly audience of 269 million. As part of BBC World Service, BBC Learning English teaches English to global audiences. For more information, visit bbc.com/worldservice. The BBC attracts a weekly global news audience of 346 million people to its international news services including BBC World Service, BBC World News television channel and bbc.com/news
Admission is free, but online registration is required. Whilst we hope to accommodate everyone, please arrive in good time to be sure of a seat.