Ethiopia: A Song Upends a Country

 Ethiopia Insight published on 16 May 2026 a commentary titled "Teddy Afro's Mourning Tent and Ethiopia's Fractured National Imagination" by Belete Addis Yemata, University of Melbourne.

Teddy Afro's new album Etorika and especially the opening song, Das Tal (loosely meaning "pitch the tent"), has drawn more than 140 million views on You Tube and ignited political arguments throughout the Ethiopian community.  Reactions to Das Tal exposed political loyalty, politico-religious alignment, competing ideas of Ethiopia, and different opinions about Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.  

Is Ethiopia Preparing for War?

 AEI's Critical Threats Africa File published on 25 February 2026 an analysis titled "Ethiopia Prepares for War: Africa File Special Edition" by Michael DeAngelo, Liam Karr, and Anahita Asudani.

The analysis concludes that the Ethiopian federal government will likely launch an offensive against the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) within the next month to neutralize the TPLF and its role in an emerging, loose anti-Ethiopian federal government coalition consisting of Eritrea, the TPLF, and other Amhara and Oromo ethnic nationalist groups.  

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. 

Ethiopia: Amhara under Attack

 Ethiopia Insight published on 29 May 2024 a commentary titled "Persecuted Amharas Have Nowhere Else to Flee to" by an anonymous author.

The commentary focuses on the violence Amhara face as minorities living outside of Amhara Region and due to conflict in Amhara Region because of conflict between Fano militia and central government security forces.  The author foresees no early end to these challenges.  

Ethiopia's Mixed Signals

 The Council on Foreign Relations blog posted on 3 May 2023 a commentary titled "Ethiopia's Mixed Signals" by Michelle Gavin.  

Ethiopia has experienced recent positive developments, not the least of which is the end of fighting in Tigray Region, but this is not the time to ignore continuing threats to stability.  

Protests Break Out in Ethiopia's Amhara Region

 Ethiopia Insight published on 7 April 2023 a commentary titled "As Ethiopian Alliances Shift, Abiy's Anniversary Met by Amhara Protests and Violence" by Abel Tesfaye, Ethiopia Insight reporter.

Protests broke out across Amhara Region over a number of decisions by the Abiy Ahmed government, including its effort to disband regional militia forces and integrate them into the central government army.  

Ethiopia: Amhara/Tigray Ethnic Relations

 African Arguments published on 10 March 2022 a commentary titled "'They're All the Same': Ethiopia's Sad Descent into a War between Brothers" by an anonymous author.  

This is a reflection on the breakdown in relations between the Amhara and Tigray ethnicities in Ethiopia.  

A Prescription for Peace in Tigray

 Foreign Policy posted on 5 March 2022 a commentary titled "There Is a Path to Peace in Tigray" by Mehari Taddele Maru, European University Institute in Florence, Italy.

The author argues that Ethiopia's 1995 constitution is the only instrument holding the country together.  Until some level of trust is restored, it is unlikely that Tigray will cooperate fully with federal-led initiatives for dialogue.  Neither of the armed parties can win the war.  The only way out is negotiations under a third-party facilitator with state sanctioned leverage over both parties.  

Call for TPLF to Share Power in Tigray

 Ethiopia Insight published on 6 March 2022 a commentary titled "For Lasting Peace, TPLF's Monopolization of Power in Tigray Must End" by Gebrehiwot Hadush Abera, former dean of the College of Law and Governance at Mekelle University and now at KU Leuven University in Belgium.

The author argues that the Tigray People's Liberation Front should not be considered the sole political actor that represents Tigray.  Tigrayan opposition parties need to be engaged to give more legitimacy to any peace talks with the central government.  

Ethiopia's Civil War May Unmake the State

 Ethiopia Insight published on 20 October 2021 a commentary titled "We Must End the Civil War to Save Ethiopia" by Moges Zewdu Teshome, graduate student at Vienna School of International Studies.

The author reviews the background that led up to the war with Tigray and concluded that failure to end the civil war may result in the unmaking of the Ethiopian state as it is known today.  

Podcast on Ethiopia's 21 June Election

 The International Crisis Group (ICG) posted on 16 June 2021 a 34-minute podcast titled "Ethiopia's Rocky Transitional Election" with William Davison, ICG's senior analyst for Ethiopia.

Ethiopia is holding parliamentary elections on 21 June.  Violent flare-ups in parts of the country, a poll boycott by some opposition political parties, and postponed votes in several locations cast a shadow over the election.  

Podcast on Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa

 The Horn's Diaspora ran on 28 May 2021 a 39-minute podcast with me titled "Ethiopian Government: From Being the Darling of the West to Becoming the Spoiler" moderated by Merga Yonas Bula on YouTube.  

This is a wide ranging discussion concerning recent developments in Ethiopia, including ethnic nationalism, the humanitarian crisis in Tigray, upcoming elections, the Ethiopia-Eritrea border, role of the diaspora, hate speech, and US policy.  

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.   

The Ethiopia-Eritrea Alliance

 Ethiopia Insight posted on 23 January 2021 a commentary titled "The 'Peace' that Delivered Total War against Tigray" by Yosief Ghebrehiwet, a writer who lives in Los Angeles.

This is a long, controversial commentary that focuses on the relationship between Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki.  

Is There an Ideological Basis to Conflict in Tigray?

 Ethiopia Insight published on 17 December 2020 a commentary titled "Conflict in Tigray Is about TPLF, Not Ethnic Federalism" by Teshome M. Borago, accountant and political analyst.  

The author argues that if there is an ideological basis to the conflict in Tigray, it is not the TPLF's commitment to ethnic federalism, but rather the TPLF's opposition to a new multiparty and pluralist Ethiopia where its political power monopoly will be threatened.  

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.  

Podcast: Ethiopia Slides Toward Civil War

 The International Crisis Group (ICG) posted on 6 November 2020 a podcast titled "Ethiopia's Slide Toward Civil War" with William Davison, ICG's senior analyst for Ethiopia, and Dino Mahtani, ICG's Africa program director.

Davison and Mahtani discuss the background to the conflict between federal authorities and the authorities in Tigray Region, the status of the conflict, and the situation along Tigray's border with Eritrea.  

Podcast on the Battle for Ethiopia

 Al Jazeera released on 8 October 2020 a 25 minute podcast titled "The Battle for Ethiopia: People and Power."

It looks at the challenges facing Ethiopia today, especially ethnic nationalism.  

Ethiopia: Maintaining Unity in Tigray Region

Ethiopia Insight posted on 30 November 2019 a commentary titled "TPLF's Last-man Standing" by Ermias Amare, Ethiopian-American architect in New York City.

Three groups in Tigray Region are competing to influence acting president of Tigray and TPLF chairman, Debretsion Gebremichael. The author wonders if he can keep Tigray Region unified.

What Is Driving Ethiopia's Ethnic Conflicts?

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) published on 25 November 2019 a report titled "What Is Driving Ethiopia's Ethnic Conflicts?" by Semir Yusuf, ISS Addis Ababa.

The author concludes that decades of exclusivist political arrangements have contributed to a steady rise in ethnic consciousness, with the state and ruling party becoming increasingly incoherent. This has increased ethnic disagreement.