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As an #Ethiopian & a student of Ethio’n politics, I have followed PM Abiy & his politics very closely for more than two years & half. I have written many pieces critiquing him for the things that should have been done, especially for the ethnic violence in the country. 1)
As an #Ethiopian & a student of Ethio’n politics, I have followed PM Abiy & his politics very closely for more than two years & half. I have written many pieces critiquing him for the things that should have been done, especially for the ethnic violence in the country. 1)
My criticism of his administration especially in his 1st year was harsh but justified as the country experienced huge internal displacements due to ethnic conflict. 2) https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.aljazeera.com/amp/opinions/2019/4/2/abiys-year-one-ethiopia-faces-the-threat-of-ethnic-conflict/
But when thing went fine and I believed the country is in a better path under his leadership, I have also applauded some of the moves that were good for the country. The dissolution of EPRDF, for example, I believed was one great accomplishment. 3) https://theconversation.com/ethiopias-new-party-is-welcome-news-but-faces-big-hurdles-128551
Before the emergence of Prosperity Party, there was no clear distinction between the party & the government. Many minorities in the peripheries were left out & marginalized as EPRDFites called them “developing regions” as if the other regions were really developed. 4)
I have also made sure my opinion of the ill-devised ethnic federalism was clear long ago. For me, & based on my research, It’s an institutional design exploited to sew ethnic tensions & greatly undermine national unity. 5) https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2018/02/09/ethiopia-has-released-political-prisoners-is-democracy-on-its-way-heres-what-you-need-to-know/%3foutputType=amp
But I’m also mindful that federalism is the only system favored by the PM & his allies in the administration. However, the fact that he attempted to (though we can review that later if a success) tone down ethnic tensions & outed unity made him an enemy of ethno-nationalists. 6)
Thus, unhappy with his new national party & his talk of unity, such groups then opted to attack him as anti-federalism or labeled him an advocate of a Unitary form of gov’t. Even those that cannot see eye to eye then coalesced against him. 7) https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.aljazeera.com/amp/opinions/2020/7/28/hachalu-hundessas-death-exposed-an-unlikely-anti-abiy-alliance/
Though reforms he led might not be equally appealing for everyone and ethnic unrest might still be a challenge that his administration struggled to quell, for honest and balanced observers of Ethiopian politics, Abiy cannot take all the blame . 8)
In fact, since day one, he has been at “war” with those who aspire the return of the old EPRDF statuesque while working hard to realize his reform agenda. An agenda that TPLF highly hates to witness it being realized. That’s why ethno-nationalists undermined him from the start. 9
Now, why Oromo ethno-nationalists back TPLF? 1st, they are both ethno-nationalists. 2nd, though challenges remain, Abiy aspires an equally prosperous Ethiopia. But Oromo ethnoes wanted an Ethiopia that Oromos tightly control by replacing TPLF, which ruled in the prior 28 yrs.
Hence, the overwhelming support Abiy & ENDF enjoy regarding the operation in Northern Ethiopia is a testament that most Ethiopians support Abiy’s unifying project. Hopefully, once successful, Ethiopians will see the fruit of the reforms. Good luck, #Ethiopia. End.
