It is hard to see democracy expanding throughout Africa if a populous nation like Ethiopia -- a country of enormous political and strategic importance for the African continent -- drifts toward "corrupt authoritarianism," says Dave Peterson, Africa program director of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

Peterson told a May 5 hearing of the House Subcommittee on Africa that is looking into political stability in the Horn of Africa region that with parliamentary elections set for May 15, "democracy is in Ethiopia's own best interest and the U.S. needs to help."

Peterson said NED is doing its part by funding initiatives to train people at the grassroots level in democracy issues. "So far this year we have made $312,213 in grants for projects in Ethiopia, and we intend to allocate an additional $160,000 by the end of the year with special funds approved by the Congress," he said.

He told lawmakers, "There can be no doubt that Ethiopia is far better off in terms of respect for human rights, political pluralism, free press and economic policies than … at any other time in its history." But the expulsion just before the elections of three other democracy NGOs -- the National Democratic Institute (NDI), the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) -- was an unjustified and arbitrary act that is cause for concern, he said.

Time is running out for the institutes that specialize in training election officials at the grassroots level, Peterson said, adding, “We hope the Ethiopian government will soon reverse its decision.”

In general, Peterson said, “I think it is worthwhile for the United States to continue to press Ethiopia to allow greater openness. I do not think Ethiopia can afford the luxury of taking a lot of time in its democratic development. Nor do I believe that its poverty should be considered an insuperable obstacle to freedom.”

Peterson contradicted the argument by some officials that Ethiopians do not want or need reforms: “On the contrary, our experience in Ethiopia has suggested that its citizens understand and desire democracy, and that many of the country's political and economic problems may be more readily addressed in a more open and democratic system.”

With Ethiopia on the verge of either joining the community of democratic nations or stagnating into a kind of corrupt authoritarianism, reform is critical in this second most populous nation in Africa, Peterson said. “It becomes so important now to invest strategically in the country and tip the balance in the right direction,” he said.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Donald Yamamoto also said the fate of the NGOs was “troubling and confusing, especially since it is the first time these organizations have been expelled from any country.”

He told lawmakers: "Their expulsion on the eve of parliamentary elections raises questions about that process. It also raises questions about the government's commitment to real, meaningful democratic reforms and the development of truly democratic institutions."

Contrary to the claim by the Ethiopian government that the NGOs did not follow proper procedures for registration, Yamamoto said the U.S. government made a formal response to the Ethiopian government “noting in detail the actions of these organizations to file the appropriate documents with various Ethiopian governmental authorities."

“These organizations did not enter into Ethiopia surreptitiously,” Yamamoto said. “They acted with the full knowledge and in full sight of the government.” Therefore, "we have asked the government to allow these reputable organizations to return to Ethiopia to continue their important capacity-building work in advance of the election."

Asked by Representative Donald Payne (Democrat of New Jersey) why the Ethiopian government was allowing The Carter Center to monitor the election and not the others, Yamamoto said he could not answer that question. But Subcommittee Chairman Christopher Smith (Republican of New Jersey) jumped in to say that it might be a belief that The Carter Center would be less critical in its evaluation of the electoral process.

Referring to the expulsions, Smith told the hearing: “Today, a number of colleagues joined me in sending a letter to Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, urging him to rescind the expulsion of three American NGOs helping to build democracy. … For the sake of continuing democratic progress in Ethiopia, we hope the prime minister will respond positively to our request.”