Ethiopia: A Nation at a Crossroads

Though I deeply love my country, the circumstances Ethiopia has been going through over the past decades have left me dismayed. They have created a sense of unease and frustration within me — feelings that, at times, surface in my writings. While I do not participate in formal politics, I closely follow national affairs. Perhaps it would be better to find other interests or hobbies, but one cannot simply look away, for what happens in our country inevitably affects each one of us.

Ethiopia is a land of immense beauty, history, and potential. Yet, the current situation is far from encouraging. Among the forces that have contributed to this predicament, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) stands out as one of the main culprits.

The sectarian ideology TPLF promoted has sown deep divisions and widespread destruction. The results are visible across the country: almost every regional state is entangled in boundary disputes, while insurgencies persist in Amhara, Oromia, and other parts of Ethiopia.

Although TPLF itself is not a monolithic entity — there are indeed internal factions — some of its members have openly advocated for Tigray’s separation from Ethiopia. Their reasoning often rests on the belief that it is better to live as an independent and impoverished state than to “return to the old system,” which they define as an Amhara-led Ethiopia. This assertion, however, is widely disputed. Historically, Ethiopia has been governed by leaders of diverse ethnic origins and backgrounds.

It should also be noted that there are Tigrayans within the TPLF who genuinely wish to remain part of Ethiopia. They see the nation’s unity as vital to the well-being of all its people. Unfortunately, these moderate voices have little influence or visibility within the party’s upper ranks. Still, there remains a small but real hope that such views could one day prevail and help steer the organization toward a more constructive and reconciliatory path.

Without delving too deeply into the complexities of ethnic politics, it is important to clarify the historical record. In the early centuries of Ethiopia’s statehood, the Tigrayan dynasties played a leading role, followed by rulers of Agew origin and later by leaders who happened to be Amharas. I emphasize “happened to be” because these individuals did not rise to leadership by virtue of their ethnicity, but rather through political or dynastic circumstances. During the Zemene Mesafint (Era of Princes), prominent figures of Oromo descent held significant authority, followed later by Amhara and Tigrayan rulers once again. Meanwhile, various smaller kingdoms across Ethiopia were led by local kings from different ethnic groups — though none claimed sovereignty over the entire territory that Ethiopia encompasses today.

Therefore, the narrative that Ethiopia has historically been ruled by a single ethnic group is false. This is not merely my opinion; it is a conclusion anyone can reach through an honest reading of history from a neutral standpoint. The claim is a political fabrication, crafted and amplified by TPLF to serve its own interests.

Whether through the sham elections it orchestrated during its 27 years in power or through its current push for independence, TPLF has consistently sought to preserve power for its elite leadership. Should it achieve an independent Tigray, it is likely to repeat the same practices — conducting hollow elections and maintaining control in the hands of a few. In either case, the ordinary people of Tigray, and indeed all Ethiopians, would continue to bear the burden of these self-serving policies.