Battle of Adwa and Ethiopian Unity

 Ethiopia Insight published on 6 May 2025 a commentary titled "Adwa Is Not the Only Oppressive Ethiopian Myth" by Tarfassa W. Barooddee, a self-employed Oromo living in North America.

The conventional narrative describes the 1896 Battle of Adwa as a decisive triumph of a united African nation resisting European imperialism.  But the author argues that "this romanticized myth" obscures a harsher truth: victory at Adwa did not spare the subject peoples of the south from oppression and violence.  The author concludes that Ethiopian unity cannot be forged by manipulating history.  

Podcast on Rising Tension between Ethiopia and Eritrea

 The International Crisis Group posted on 14 March 2025 a 37-minute podcast titled "Ethiopia and Eritrea, On a Collision Course" with Alan Boswell and Michael Woldemariam, University of Maryland.

They discuss the rising tension between Ethiopia and Eritrea, the political crisis in Tigray Region, and whether another war can be averted.  A split in the once united Tigray People's Liberation Front with one faction potentially willing to side with Eritrea and the other with Abiy Ahmed's central government is the proximate cause of the current crisis.

What happens in Tigray Region, which has a long border with Eritrea, will likely determine whether conflict breaks out between Ethiopia and Eritrea.  The best way to deescalate the crisis is to encourage Tigrayan reconciliation.  

Ethiopia's Constitutional Challenge

 Ethiopia Insight published on 13 September 2024 a commentary titled "Ethiopia's Endless Constitutional Chasm and Authoritarian Abyss" by Leul Estifanos, freelance court reporter.  

There seems to be a consensus that Ethiopia needs to make changes in its 1995 constitution, but there is no consensus on what the final document should look like.  Finding a consensus is even more difficult in Ethiopia's current political environment.  The situation today is exacerbated because even the existing constitution is not being fully implemented. 

House Foreign Affairs Committee Hearing on Ethiopia

 The US House of Representatives Subcommittee on Africa held on 30 November 2023 a one hour and 20 minute hearing titled "Ethiopia: Promise or Perils, The State of U.S. Policy."  The two witnesses were Mike Hammer, special envoy to the Horn of Africa, and Tyler Beckelman, deputy assistant administrator for Africa in USAID.  Nine members of Congress made comments and asked questions.  

This was a wide ranging discussion of US policy towards Ethiopia.  Some of the questioning suggested deep concerns about developments in Ethiopia and the US policy response.  Hammer emphasized that the US believes there is no military solution to the ongoing conflicts in Ethiopia and that Washington will continue to press for accountability of human rights violations.  He also noted that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has assured the US that Ethiopia is seeking a peaceful way to achieve access to the sea.  

Ethiopian Conflict Takes Toll on Diaspora

 TRT World, Turkish state-owned news channel, published on 26 December 2021 an article titled "How Ethiopia War Is Sowing Discord 13,000-km Away Among US Immigrants" by Baba Umar.  

The conflict in Ethiopia is playing out in the Ethiopian diaspora in the United States.  This article looks at the ethnic divisions in the Ethiopian diaspora in the Washington, D.C. area.

Is Ethiopia Headed for Civil War?

 Foreign Policy posted on 5 November 2020 a commentary titled "Is Ethiopia Headed for Civil War?" by Tom Gardner.  

The author comments that it is not clear whether federal troops or Tigrayan troops fired the first shots in Tigray region, but argues there were significant movements of federal troops in the days preceding the outbreak of violence.  While the conflict appears limited for the moment, he laments it could easily spread across the wider region.   

Ethiopia: Tigray's Ruling Party Threatened

Ethiopia Insight posted on 26 March 2020 a commentary titled "With Abiy in His Corner, Isaias Eyes TPLF Knockout" by U.S. resident Naty Berhane Yifru.

The author argues that an alliance of Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed threatens the future of the ruling Tigray People's Liberation Front in Tigray Region.

Ethiopia: A Critique of Abiy Ahmed's Leadership

Ethiopia Insight published on 25 February 2020 a commentary titled "Preaching Unity but Flying Solo, Abiy's Ambition May Stall Ethiopia's Transition" by Rene Lefort.

The author suggests that Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has isolated himself from his closest allies and from his political base.

Ethiopia: An Independent Tigray?

Ethiopia Insight posted on 28 September 2019 a commentary titled "The Republic of Tigray?" by Getachew Gebrekiros Temare, a human rights activist.

The author discusses the debate in Tigray where groups are arguing for and against the secession of Tigray from Ethiopia, concluding that the idea of an independent Tigray nation is premature.

Podcast on Ethiopia's Democratic Renewal

Global Dispatches Podcast ran a half hour interview on 1 August 2019 by Mark Leon Goldberg with William Davidson, senior Ethiopia analyst with the International Crisis Group titled "Ethiopia Is in the Midst of a Rapid Democratic Renewal. Can It Succeed?"

The discussion is a review of events leading up to the election of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and thoughts on where Ethiopia is heading.

Ethiopia: Protest Movement in Tigray Region

African Arguments published on 21 May 2019 a commentary titled "Ethiopia: The Challenge to the TPLF. . . From Tigray's Own Grassroots" by Getchew Gebrekiros Temare.

A growing protest movement in Tigray Region is reportedly putting increasing pressure on the ruling Tigrayan People's Liberation Front.

Prescription for Managing Ethiopia's Transition

The International Crisis Group published on 21 February 2019 a report titled "Managing Ethiopia's Unsettled Transition."

The report provides ideas for managing Ethiopia's democratic transition and dealing with ethnic conflict.

Eritrea: Peace with Ethiopia but No Move Toward Democracy in Asmara

World Politics Review published on 19 February 2019 an analysis titled "Will Peace with Ethiopia Usher In a Political Opening In Eritrea?" by Tanja Muller, University of Manchester.

While Eritreans welcome the new peace with Ethiopia and the ability to cross the border, the author says that so far there has been no progress toward democratic governance in Eritrea.

Reaching a Permanent Ethiopia-Eritrea Peace

Ethiopia Insight posted on 31 January 2019 an article titled "Politicizing Eritrea Peace Perpetuates Conflict Cycle" by Mehari Taddele Maru.

The author argues that until Ethiopian forces stop making use of Eritrea for internal political purposes, genuine peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea will remain elusive. To achieve sustainable peace, there is need to build effective border governance with the active participation of local authorities and communities that leads to a soft border with free movement of people, goods, services and capital.

Tigray and Abiy Ahmed's Ethiopia

Ethiopia Insight posted on 17 January 2019 a commentary titled "Is Tigray Really a Drop in the Bucket for Abiy's Administration?" by Nebiyu Sihul Mikael, Mekelle University.

The author comments on Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's growing hostility to the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and argues that his current trajectory damages hopes of political reconciliation.

The Trouble with Ethiopia's Ethnic Federalism

The New York Times published on 3 January 2019 a commentary titled "The Trouble with Ethiopia's Ethnic Federalism" by Mahmood Mamdani, Makerere University.

Mamdani argues that the system of ethnic federalism contains internal inconsistencies because ethnic groups do not live only in a discrete "homeland" territory but are also dispersed across the country. Nonnative ethnic minorities live within every ethnic homeland. Ethiopia can achieve real progress if it embraces a different kind of federation--territorial and not ethnic--where rights in a federal unit are dispensed not on the basis of ethnicity but on residence.

Ethiopia: Ethnic Conflict in Amhara Region

Ethiopia Insight published on 16 December 2018 an article titled "Violent Qemant Dispute Fueling Explosive Amhara-Tigray Divide" by William Davison, Solomon Yimer, Kibreab Beraki.

The status of the Qemant people, a group of less than 200,000 in Amhara region, has become one of the most recent areas for ethnic conflict. The violence is tied to the deteriorating relations and territorial disputes between the Amhara and Tigray governments.

Ethiopia: Power Politics in Oromia

Ethiopia Insight posted on 30 October 2018 an analysis titled "Rallies Held in Oromia Over Threat To Disarm OLF" by Ermias Tasfaye.

Oromo Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), commanders claim they were not informed by OLF leaders that there had been an agreement to demobilize following their move from Eritrea to Ethiopia. This has led to the threat of forcible disarming by the Ethiopian National Defense Force. At least three different political parties are now competing for support among Oromos, Ethiopia's most populous ethnic group.

Ethnic Issues Expand to Northern Ethiopia

Ethiopia Insight posted on 28 October 2018 an article titled "After Eritrea Thaw, Tigray's Southern Border with Amhara Heats Up" by Solomon Yimer, freelance journalist, and Kibreab Beraki, based in Mekele.

The article analyzes territorial disputes along the border of Tigray and Amhara states, suggesting that ethnic conflicts are spreading to northern Ethiopia.

Stunning Travel Photos of Ethiopia

In a blog contribution titled "Travel to Ethiopia: First Impressions," husband and wife Daniel Noll and Audrey Scott provide some excellent photographs of various aspects of Ethiopia.

Olivier Grundewald adds some incredible pictures taken in Ethiopia's Danakil Depression.

Great Journeys published on 6 June 2014 a travel article titled "On Foot Through Ethiopia's Forgotten Land" by Mike Carter.  It includes pictures of landscapes in Tigray Region.