Title: An Urgent Plea to Address Ethiopia’s Continuing Crisis: A Perspective From Meskerem Abera
In an open letter to the media and the international community, renowned Ethiopian journalist and political analyst, Meskerem Abera provides a chilling account of the current state of political affairs in Ethiopia. Serving time in Ethiopia’s Kaliti prison, Abera’s views reflect the personal struggles and lived experiences of countless Ethiopians.
Since the past 33 years of Ethiopia’s political history have been characterized by a troubling adherence to an ethnicity-lead political, constitutional, and administrative structure. The result has been a political landscape rife with animosity, profound ethnic disagreements, recurrent conflicts, and widespread national disillusionment. The underpinning origins of this polarized state can be traced back to the 27-year iron rule of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, succeeded by a dominance of Oromo elites and the Prosperity Party-led federal government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali.
Abera highlights the Oromo elite’s controlling hold over various spheres including politico-military, financial, economic, and trade sectors in Ethiopia. This dominance has left non-Oromo ethnic groups feeling marginalized, devalued, and, in many instances, forced into flight or incarceration for dissenting voices. Furthermore, the ambience of accountability and independent enquiry is severely stifled with harassment of independent civil society organizations and suppression of opposition parties.
A growing disillusionment with Abiy Ahmed Ali’s leadership is increasingly evident among Ethiopia’s estimated 130 million population. With economic, social, and security needs left unmet, it is clear to Abera and millions of Ethiopians that the roots of agony, mistrust, and hatred lie in the states’ and societies’ inability to address these fundamental needs. Moreover, the recent establishment of the ostentatious Dialogue Commission, controlled by Abiy Ahmed Ali, serves as further evidence of the administration’s disregard for genuine change.
Abera identifies the Prime Minister’s deceptive use of the “national dialogue commission” as a device to divert international attention from the public’s suffering under his rule. Even the Ethiopian National Defense Forces appear to protect Abiy Ahmed and his self-serving personnel rather than serving the greater public good.
Debunking the façade of this so-called commission, Abera argues that the genuine goal of a national dialogue should be to address root causes of human insecurity, corruption, civil wars, mass hunger, and nepotism, with the ultimate aim of achieving lasting peace. This requires an open and active participation from major stakeholders of current and latent conflicts, including the opportunity for negotiations that challenge the status quo, even to the extent of a government change.
Abera criticizes the Prime Minister for his failure to acknowledge the failed reform agenda that has replaced one form of ethnic elite hegemony (Tigray) by another (Oromo), instead of democratizing Ethiopian society. Furthermore, Ahmed Ali and his ethnicity-based Oromo elites are accused of having no intention of sacrificing their gains for the common good of the nation, namely lasting peace and stability.
In closing, Abera apologizes for Abiy Ahmed Ali’s unchallenged ethno-nationalist agenda and actuates for a negotiated political settlement. She urges the international community to pressure the current Ethiopian government to consider a negotiated political settlement involving all critical stakeholders, including armed resistance actors. A peaceful and prosperous Ethiopia can only be achieved through sincere negotiation and a genuine commitment to equality, fair representation, and democracy.
Disclaimer: Views reflected in this letter are those of Meskerem Abera and not necessarily those of borkena.com.
