Page 9 - Issue 26

Vol.1 Issue 26, December 2020 ELITE

Dr Nermeen Tawfik , Researcher in African Affairs

When Abiy Ahmed assumed power in Ethiopia as a prime Egypt over the Renaissance Dam, prompting Egypt to denounce
minister in 2018, he was regarded as a young leader and his statements.
reformer, capable of accommodating everyone in his this Then came the dangerous developments that took place in
ethnically-diverse country, which its constitution establishes a November 4, 2020, in which he launched a military crackdown
federal system for its nine states. Abiy came to power on the back against protests in the northern Tigray region, taking advantage
of massive protests by the Oromo ethnicity that he belongs to. of the US elections. He then sacked his foreign minister, the army
The protests forced "Hailemariam Desalegn" to resign. Abiy is chief and the head of Intelligence.
young and well-educated, and holds a doctorate from Addis When we look at the causes and motives that led to these
Ababa University, and a master's degree from Western dangerous developments, we will know that Ethiopia is basically
universities, which helped him know that people can make a multi-ethnic country, its national integration was not voluntary
change whenever they want to. Not only that, he also moved fast but was forced upon it, and it doesn't have an inclusive national
to make peace with Eritrea, following years of war that left identity. If the ruling regime fails to accommodate these ethnic
hundreds of deaths on both sides. He became the first Ethiopian groups, many of them would seek cession and self-rule. This is
leader to meet with his Eritrean counterpart in more than two what the late Ethiopian prime minister "Meles Zenawy" sought to
decades, in addition to his regional moves and his positive address in the early nineties, after coming to power following his
mediation role in Sudan's crisis. defeat of the then Marxist leader "Mengistu". He established a
Soon after coming to power, Western circles nominated him for federal system for the country, according to which its provinces
Nobel Peace Prize, which he actually won in 2019, but after and states were divided along ethnic lines. But Zenawy preferred
winning the Prize, his domestic and foreign policies changed in a his Tigray ethnicity over others, although it was a small minority
reckless way, as the domestic front went through huge turmoil, so making up only 7% of the Ethiopian population. The Tigray
much so that he was subjected to an assassination attempt group had the advantage in government and key official positions
organized by former army leaders, followed by several in the army and ministries. This situation upset other minorities,
demonstrations organized by his Oromo ethnicity, that by that especially the Oromo and Amhara which make up the majority in
time had a new leader, Gawhar Ahmed. The protests reached a the country. This led eventually to massive demonstrations that
peak with the murder of the young singer "Hashalo Hondisa", lasted for three years, from 2015 to 2018, catapulting Abiy
who had emerged as a political voice for the Oromo people. But Ahmed to power, making him the first Ethiopian prime minister
Abiy Ahmed repressed these protests, arresting Gawhar Ahmed. to come from the Oromo group. In spite of the promises he made
To escape this pressure, he tried to distract popular attention at the start of his rule, to accommodate all ethnicities, he didn't
away from his domestic and foreign crises, by controversially learn the lesson. In just a few short months, ethnic protests
stating in Ethiopian parliament that he was ready for war against erupted against him, organized by Somali, Amhara, even from

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