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.  

Ethiopia: Ethnic Issues in Oromia

 Aljazeera broadcast on 29 March 2021 a 25-minute video discussion titled "Is Ethiopia Hurtling Towards All-out Ethnic Conflict?" with Tewodrose Tirfe, Chairman of the Amhara Association of America, Zecharias Zelalem, journalist, and Awol Allo, Keele University.

The three panelists engaged in a heated discussion that focused on ethnic nationalism, the future of Ethiopia, and violence in Oromia.  There was little agreement.   

Ethiopia: Self-determination for More Southwestern States?

 Ethiopia Insight posted on 22 September 2020 a commentary titled "Respecting Self-determination Could Prove Good Governance Model for Ethiopia's Southern Nations" by Kulle Kursha, Hawassa University.

In 2019, the Sidama people voted for autonomy from the Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples' Regional State (SNNPRS) and in 2020 became Sidama National Regional State, Ethiopia's tenth state.  Eleven more ethnic groups in SNNPRS have now requested similar status.  The author argues that reorganizing SNNPRS into multiple regional states would be a positive step irrespective of their small size.

Nostalgia Will Not Bring Peace to Ethiopia

 Ethiopia Insight posted on 26 August 2020 a commentary titled "Nostalgic Ethiopianists Threaten National Unity" by Mohamed Olad, former adviser to Somali Region acting president.  

The author argues that any genuine attempt at national dialogue and reconciliation starts with the immediate release of all political prisoners.  Abandoning the Oromo, neglecting Somalis, feuding with Sidama, clashing with the Wolayta, and suffocating Tigray is not the way Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed will achieve peace and unity.  

Fragmentation in Ethiopia?

 Ethiopia Insight posted on 18 August 2020 a commentary titled "First, Constitutional Adherence, Then Reform Will Prevent Ethiopia's Fragmentation" by Markos Debebe, Ethiopia Policy Studies Institute.

Sidama's rise to statehood has resulted in a request by 12 other entities for mini-state status.  How the central government deals with these requests will determine whether Ethiopia achieves unity in diversity or unravels further.  

Hit the Pause Button for Sidama Statehood

Ethiopia Insight published on 25 July 2019 a commentary titled "Like Every Dispute in Ethiopia, Sidama Statehood Must Wait" by Teshome M. Borago, accountant and political analyst.

The author says that attempts to resolve sensitive issues such as statehood for Sidama should only occur after elections in 2020 and the emergence of a new national consensus.

Ethiopia: Sidama Insisting on Statehood

The International Crisis Group (ICG) published on 4 July 2019 an analysis titled "Time for Ethiopia to Bargain with Sidama over Statehood."

The Sidama people in southern Ethiopia have threatened to unilaterally declare their own regional state within Ethiopia's federation on 18 July 2019. Each of Ethiopia's ethnic groups is constitutionally entitled to a vote on forming a new state if its governing council requests one. The poll is supposed to take place within a year of the request, which in Sidama's case came on 18 July 2018. ICG recommends that the central government offer Sidama leaders a referendum date at the earliest feasible opportunity.

Ethiopia: Sidama Seeks Statehood

Ethiopia Insight posted on 5 May 2019 a commentary titled "Sidama Declares State of Impatience" by Yohanan Yokamo, Hawassa University.

Sidama is agitating to become a separate state in Ethiopia's federal system, thus breaking away from the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Regional State (SNNPRS).

Ethiopia: Can "Abiymania" Withstand Ethnic Conflict?

World Politics Review published on 15 October 2018 an interview with Terrence Lyons, George Mason University, entitled "Can 'Abiymania' in Ethiopia Withstand the Threat of Ethnic Conflict?"

Terence Lyons responds to questions dealing with the factors that have led to recent ethnic violence, the extent to which the violence is a setback for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's reform and reconciliation efforts, and how effective he has been in implementing his other main policy priorities.