Paper short abstract:

The paper examines urban renewal in Addis Ababa post-2018, analyzing forced evictions. Drawing on interviews, observations and media reports, it shows how centralized decision-making, repression and securitization prevented reform coalitions, silenced dissent and marginalized affected communities.

Paper long abstract:

Drawing on the case of urban renewal in Addis Ababa post-2018, the paper critically reflects on when urban reform coalitions can emerge. The paper draws on (1) over 180 interviews conducted with tenants, sub-letters, property owners, business owners and squatters who were forcefully evicted for urban renewal projects from two inner-city neighbourhoods in Ethiopia’s capital, Piassa and Kasanchis; (2) observations at urban renewal sites and relocation sites; (3) interviews with politicians and bureaucrats involved in the urban renewal planning and execution; (4) formal government statements; and (5) traditional and social media reporting. Analysing the execution of forced evictions in the two field sites, mapping patterns of resistance and subversion of the process and exploring the immediate consequences of forced evictions on residents and businesses, we demonstrate that the Ethiopian government has effectively precluded the emergence of reform coalitions. Decision making has been centralised and coordinated by the PM and the mayor’s office and remains opaque for outsiders. Concerned communities have not been allowed to participate in the process and possible mobilisation has been prevented through a mixture of lack of information, short time frames for action, threat and repression. Detention of journalists and activists reporting on forced evictions and the dominance of the government over the narrative discourage civil society organisations and businesses to engage with the issue. In the end, top-down planning and execution of urban renewal have disenfranchised concerned communities, pushed them to the outskirts of the city and disproportionately affect marginalized groups, further silencing their voices.