Page 10 - Issue 26

Vol.1 Issue 26, December 2020 ELITE

the Oromo people, but the most dangerous of them was the warning that millions could be displaced if this war continues.
animosity between Abiy and the Tigray ethnicity. At the These repercussions make it necessary for Abiy to realize that the
beginning, Abiy entered a silent hostility against the Tigray war with Tigray won't be easy or go unnoticed, either
People Liberation Front (TPLF), as he sought to limit its growing domestically or externally. Because the Tigrayans have along
influence in Ethiopian government, and army. military and political experience inside Ethiopia, and a strong
Then the relations between the two sides became extremely tense foreign backing from the Tigrayan Diaspora living in the US,
in December 2019, when Abiy dissolved the Ethiopian People's many of them enjoy good relations with decision-making circles
Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), the former ruling in America. This means that they would turn the international
party, and forming the Prosperity Party which he headed, but the public opinion against Abiy Ahmed. And we have already seen
TPLF refused to join his party, arguing that he attempted to how prominent international newspapers are talking about this
monopolize power. The situation got worse after Abiy's decision crisis with deep concern, criticizing Abiy, including the Foreign
to postpone the elections scheduled for September 2020, citing Policy magazine that called what was happening in Ethiopia a
the Corona Virus outbreak. But The TPLF saw this as a violation civil war. For its part, the New York Times described the events
of constitution, paving the way for Abiy to stay in power with no in the Tigray region as a tragedy, holding Abiy responsible, and
legal or constitutional basis. Afterwards, the Tigray Front stating that he turned from being a peace dove into a warmonger.
organized elections on schedule in September, and defended their Ironically, Abiy didn't respect the "Silencing the Guns" initiative
results notwithstanding the federal government's failure to that was adopted by the African Union in 2020 aimed at halting
recognize them. Eventually, this situation led to military armed conflict in African countries. It is worthy to note that the
escalation, and in November 7, the Ethiopian parliament passed a African Union's headquarters is located in the Ethiopian capital
resolution dissolving the Tigray government, forming a new Addis Ababba, which makes it imperative for the African Union
interim government for the region. Abiy then imposed a six- to have a decisive position, and urge Abiy to immediately end
month curfew, closed the region's entrances, sent land troops to hostilities.
fight the Tigray region, and gave order to the army to bomb its All of this point out that Abiy has frustrated the high hopes that
people with warplanes, leaving hundreds dead in few days, which were placed on him when he came to power. Abiy must come to
could turn the Tigray region into a new Darfur. his senses; stop targeting his opponents and civilians in the
All of this reveals the true face of Abiy Ahmed before the world, Tigray region, and resort to dialogue. He should also set a date
especially the Western circles, and puts his rule at risk. Because for general elections to salvage what he could in order to save
this war could potentially plunge Ethiopia into a devastating civil this important country and its neighbors from the horrors of war,
war, that may spill over to neighboring states like Eretria and if he really cares about peace inside and outside his country.
Sudan, As the Tigrayans launched rockets at Eretria, claiming Otherwise, Ethiopia would be embroiled in civil war that may
that Asmara supported Ethiopian army's attacks against Tigray expand and last for a long time because of the impetuousness of
region. UN reports suggest that thousands of Ethiopians fled the this Nobel Peace Prize Laureate!
conflict zone to take shelter in tents along the border with Sudan,
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