The Urgent Call for Change in Ethiopia: An Insight into the Crisis

by Dan A

The political and humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia has reached an alarming level, and the silence of the international community, particularly the United States (US) and African Union (AU), is deeply concerning. Since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed assumed power in 2020, Ethiopia has been engulfed in chaos, marked by civil war, ethnic strife, and massive internal displacements—challenges even more severe than those under the previous regime.

Abiy Ahmed’s government, characterized by many as an Oromo regime, has been accused of consolidating power aggressively, sidelining the Tigrayan and Amhara communities. This power consolidation is mirrored in the government and military sectors, where significant representation shifts have been observed. The regime’s actions have contradicted the peace and unity image that Abiy once projected to the world—an image that controversially earned him the Nobel Peace Prize.

The subsequent civil war in the north of Ethiopia has had devastating effects, resulting in the loss of millions of lives and leaving millions more internally displaced or at risk of starvation. The fragile peace deal that followed did little to stabilize the region. Instead, Abiy declared war against his former allies, the Amhara Fano and militia, betraying those who once protected the capital from the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) advances.

The government’s attempts to disarm the Amhara Fano, under the guise of national disarmament, are perceived as efforts to weaken opposition and centralize power further. This move has been met with resistance, especially given the government’s failure to protect the Amhara community from massacres and ethnic cleansing in Oromia.

The situation has escalated into a state of emergency in the Amhara region, with the government using drones, heavy weaponry, and committing extrajudicial killings under the pretext of law enforcement. Amidst this turmoil, Abiy has been diverting attention with threats of sea access conflicts, while internally, a genocidal campaign against the Amharas and opposition in Addis Ababa is underway.

The strategy includes ethnically targeted actions, such as the destruction of homes and historical districts under modernization pretexts, aimed at demographic changes in Addis Ababa. Non Oromo residents face systematic impoverishment and displacement, with Amharas being particularly targeted, arrested, and killed.

These atrocities occur as the AU and US, despite being well-positioned to intervene, remain disturbingly silent. The international community’s insistence on dialogue, even as Abiy’s regime perpetrates violence and oppression, is reminiscent of past global failures to prevent genocide.

The hope for Ethiopia now lies in the Fano fighters, who have shown resilience and determination in their struggle for justice and peace. Dialogue with a regime actively engaged in genocidal actions is not only futile but complicit. The international community must recognize the urgency of removing Abiy’s regime, which has proven to be detrimental to Ethiopia’s stability and the well-being of its people.

For genuine peace and national dialogue to be possible, security and trust must be established, and those responsible for atrocities must be held accountable. The solution for Ethiopia is clear: Abiy Ahmed must be removed from power to end the cycle of death and destruction. It’s imperative for global leaders, including Secretary Blinken, the EU, and the African Union, to act decisively before it’s too late. The world must not remain silent as innocent lives are lost daily in Ethiopia.

Source: Borkena
Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of Ethiopian Tribune