The Many Faces of Ethiopia's Abiy Ahmed

 Foreign Policy published on 6 September 2024 an essay titled "The Many Faces of Abiy Ahmed" by Tom Gardner, Africa correspondent for The Economist.

This essay is adapted from the book published in 2024 and titled The Abiy Project: God, Power and War in the New Ethiopia by Tom Gardner.  The author argues there are many Abiy Ahmeds: the aspiring emperor longing for a glorious past, a forward-looking modernizer, a Pentecostal Putin both pragmatic and Machiavellian, a Christian nationalist, and a corporate CEO.  Abiy is convinced he was sent by God to rule Ethiopia.  

Saudi Arabia Deports Tigrayans; Ethiopia Detains Some of Them

 Human Rights Watch published on 5 January 2022 a report titled "Ethiopia: Returned Tigrayans Detained, Abused."  

Human Rights Watch reports that Saudi Arabia has been deporting Tigrayans to reception centers in Ethiopia where some of them are being unlawfully held.  There are 8 detention centers in the Addis Ababa area and other regional centers.  Some young male Tigrayans have been sent to forced labor sites.  

New Atrocities in Western Tigray; is There No End to Ethiopia's Mayhem?

 In a collaborative effort, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch published on 16 December 2021 a report titled "Ethiopia: New Wave of Atrocities in Western Tigray."  See the Human Rights Watch account.

The two organizations report that Amhara militias known as Fanos have systematically rounded up and expelled to central Tigray Tigrayan residents in western Tigray.  They reportedly shot run aways and other Tigrayans are still missing.  

Tigrayan Asylum Seekers and Refugees Face Challenges in Kenya

 The Washington Post published on 8 December 2021 an article titled "They Fled Hundreds of Miles to Escape War in Ethiopia.  But They Fear It Wasn't Far Enough" by Rachel Chason and Rael Ombuor.

The article relates the challenges that Tigrayan asylum seekers and refugees face in neighboring Kenya as they try to escape the civil war in Ethiopia.  

Fate of Tigrayans in UN Peacekeeping Operations

 Ethiopia Insight published on 3 December 2021 a commentary titled "The UN is Failing Its Tigrayan Peacekeeping Troops" by Saba Mah'derom, a Tigrayan activist student in the United States.

Ethiopia has a long and proud history of contributing peacekeeping troops to UN operations, currently in Sudan and Somalia.  Following the outbreak of conflict between Tigrayan Defense Forces and Ethiopian National Defense Forces, the author argues that Tigrayan soldiers assigned to UN peacekeeping operations have been singled out by the government of Ethiopia for deactivation or worse.

Comment:  While this is written from a Tigrayan perspective, together with so many other incidents in Ethiopia attributed to both sides since the outbreak of conflict in November 2020, the allegations merit an investigation by the UN.

Ethiopia: War Crimes Affect Tigrayan and Amhara Communities

 The Associated Press published on 15 November 2021 an article titled "'You Can't Even Cry Loudly': Counting Ethiopia's War" by Cara Anna, Nat Castaneda, and David Keyton.

This article reports on efforts to name Tigrayan and Amhara civilians who were killed by opposing sides in Ethiopia's civil war.  The list of confirmed dead probably significantly understates the actual number of persons killed.  

Ethnic Arrests in Addis Ababa

 The BBC reported on 20 November 2021 a story titled "Ethiopia's Tigray Conflict: Mass Arrests and Ethnic Profiling Haunt Addis Ababa" by Andrew Harding.

The story reports that large numbers of Tigrayans are being arrested in Addis Ababa for allegedly supporting or sympathizing with the Tigrayan People's Liberation Movement.  

Ethiopia: Investigative Report on Ethnic Killings at Mai Kadra

 Reuters published on 7 June 2021 a lengthy investigative report titled "How Ethnic Killings Exploded from an Ethiopian Town" by Katharine Houreld, Michael Georgy, and Silvia Aloisi.  

This is an account of the ethnic violence that took place in mid-November 2020 at and around Mai Kadra in western Tigray Region.  The authors conclude there were two rounds of ethnic killings.  The first round was carried out by ethnic Tigrayans against Amhara who were living in Mai Kadra.  The second round constituted revenge killings of Tigrayans by Amhara.

Ethiopia Rounds Up Tigrayans

 Reuters published on 7 May 2021 a special report titled "Ethiopia's Crackdown on Ethnic Tigrayans Snares Thousands" by Giulia Paravicini, Dawit Endeshaw, and Katharine Houreld.  

Across Ethiopia, Tigrayans are being fired and jailed since fighting erupted in Tigray Region last November.  The ethnic tension is complicating efforts to end a civil conflict that threatens the unity of the country.  

Ethiopia at the Political Crossroads

 The Associated Press published on 4 May 2021 an article titled "Ethiopia 'At a Crossroads' Amid Spiraling Ethnic Conflict" by Rodney Muhumuza.

The author says Ethiopia is at the point where it needs to decide to continue with its system of ethnic federalism or switch to some other form of governance.  

Conflict in Tigray Resulting in Harassment of Tigrayans Elsewhere

The New York Times published on 12 December 2020 an article titled "As War Goes on in Ethiopia, Ethnic Harassment Is on the Rise" by Simon Marks and Abdi Latif Dahir. 

There are increasing reports of harassment of Tigrayans in Ethiopia following the outbreak of conflict in Tigray Region between central government forces and the Tigray People's Liberation Front.  

Ethiopia: Conflict in Tigray Not Over

 The Washington Post published on 4 December 2020 an article titled "Ethiopia's War in Tigray Shows No Signs of Abating Despite Government's Victory Claims" by Max Bearak.  

The article describes continuing conflict in Tigray region with the TPLF and its supporters apparently taking refuge in the more mountainous parts of the state.  There is no indication the conflict will come to a quick end.  

Ethiopia's Political Transition

The International Crisis Group (ICG) published on 16 December 2019 a report titled "Keeping Ethiopia's Transition on the Rails."

The ICG concluded that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed should move cautiously in implementing reforms, step up efforts to reduce tensions among Oromo factions and between Amhara and Tigray regional leaders, and, if necessary, consider delaying next year's parliamentary election.

Debate on Ethiopia's Reform Program

Rene Lefort recently published in Ethiopia Insight a commentary on political developments in Ethiopia under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (see the posting for 21 October below). In a long rejoinder in the 25 October 2018 Ethiopia Observer, Messay Kebede, University of Dayton in Ohio, took issue with many of Lefort's conclusions. Lefort responded on 29 October 2018 in a piece published by Ethiopia Insight.

Readers can judge for themselves.

Ethiopia and Ethnic Federalism

Foreign Policy published on 29 August 2016 an analysis titled "Behind the Violence in Ethiopia: Will Its Experiment with Ethnic Federalism Work?" by Harry Verhoeven, Qatar campus of Georgetown University.

The author argues that following the recent protests in Ethiopia, the EPRDF faces a crisis of authority, with both its legitimacy and its effectiveness in question.