Borkena
Toronto – Sahlework Zewde served as Ethiopia’s president for six years before her unexpected replacement at the end of September this year. She was succeeded by Taye Askeselassie, a former Permanent Representative of Ethiopia to the United Nations and later Minister for Foreign Affairs.
The government of Abiy Ahmed did not organize a farewell for President Sahlework.
Borkena has previously reported on President Sahlework Zewde’s differences with Abiy Ahmed’s government regarding the ongoing conflicts in various parts of the country. At least on two occasions in 2024, she openly spoke out against the war in the country, emphasizing that dialogue was the only way to resolve the conflicts. One of these occasions was during the inauguration of the Adwa Museum, and the other took place at a women’s event organized at Haile Grand in Addis Ababa a few months ago.
Leaders focused on women’s issues in the country organized an event on Friday to recognize Sahlework Zewde’s contributions to women.
According to a VOA Amharic report, some attendees at the event in Addis Ababa expressed dissatisfaction that the Ethiopian government did not organize an appropriate farewell for her.
Ambassador Tadelech Hailemichael was one of the leaders who voiced this concern. “It’s about the message. It’s necessary to recognize. It’s for our children,” she said. She added, “I am happy that we did what we were supposed to do.”
The former president did not address this issue during the event. Instead, she emphasized that the task of “empowering women should be strengthened.” She stated, “We all have to try empowering women.” And she put it as “a lifelong commitment.”
Sahlework Zewde was lauded for her significant contributions to supporting women. Seada Jemal, whom the source described as the coordinator of presidential leadership training and who also attended the event, told the VOA reporter that the former president was supportive, adding, “She is a witness for it.”
However, there are also those who criticize the president, as mentioned in the VOA Amharic report, for not speaking out during the war between the Federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
Days before her departure was officially announced, Sahlework Zewde posted a message on her X (formerly Twitter) page, which later went viral. The message, written in Amharic, expressed what appeared to be personal feelings of sadness over the actions taken by the government.
The message she shared could be translated as:
“Tilahun Gessese, Teddy Afro, Ali Bira, Mahmud Ahmed… are among the gems of vocalists. When a person feels sorrow, when pushed by time, just like when a man pushes; when there is no way out, the only hope is silence.”
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I would like to take a moment to thank our dearest sister H.E. Sahlework Zewde for her illustrious and extremely valuable service for those upright and noble people of that gem of the colored we proudly call Ethiopia. You had brought grace and dignity to the office of the president just like your predecessors and so much more. You have proved this octogenarian here so right in his conviction that the issues that have been bedeviling that country for decades and over the centuries will only be solved amicably if our women take away the mantle of running its affairs from us men and do peacefully so.
Dear Madam President,
We the men have monopolized ruling that country for so long that we gone so arrogant about it. We have stopped heeding to reasons. We start bloody and destructive stupid wars for stupid reasons. Just look at the bloodshed and destructive wars that have been going on in both Amhara and Oromia regions. Does someone with the upright mind would start them? No! Schools are shuttered for years in many parts of those two regions and also in Tigray where the leaders there are not sure which way is up. Bigots and connivers are having field days both in Oromia and Amhara regions where innocent and peace-mongering civilians are caught in the crossfire. The concept of debate and compromise has departed from us men. It is time for our women to organize politically. It is in my daily prayers that our women would be able to take away the roles of running that country from us men peacefully and do so for the next 100 years. Then we men will be told to stand way, way back in line until the year 2,125. I hope to see that before my last day on this Good Earth and there isn’t that much left on the hopper for me.
Again, thank you for your service and wish you health and happiness in your well-deserved retirement years.
Blessings to you and your family.