By : Habte H.
“If someone who is sleeping consciously wakes up, he will not hear.” This Ethiopian proverb perfectly encapsulates the transformation of Sisay Agena – from a once fiery voice against repression to a dissonant echo of the very forces he once condemned. For many of us who witnessed his early work, especially through ESAT during the height of TPLF’s authoritarianism, this shift has been disappointing, even disturbing. Sisay’s journey reflects the tragic tale of a man who appeared to be a principled freedom fighter but has instead revealed himself to be driven by personal grievance and opportunism.
The Voice That Once Roared for the Voiceless
I first came to know Sisay Agena through ESAT TV, one of the few platforms at the time that dared to challenge the TPLF-dominated state machinery. He emerged during a critical period – when TPLF’s grip in Ethiopia was at its peak, and opposition voices were routinely imprisoned, exiled, or worse. Sisay stood out. His bold, articulate commentary and deep memory of facts made him one of the most compelling voices of resistance. He was not just reading the news; he was dissecting it, challenging narratives, and giving voice to the voiceless.
What made him even more admirable was the humility that seemed to mark his personal life. In Andualem Arage’s book, I read a passage that left a deep impression on me – Sisay reportedly gave his own car to Dr. Negasso Gidada, a former president of Ethiopia, out of respect and commitment to the cause. That act spoke volumes about the kind of man we believed him to be selfless, principled, and rooted in the belief that the fight for freedom was bigger than himself.
At that time, I had no doubt about Sisay’s commitment to political freedom. He seemed to embody everything that Ethiopia’s opposition lacked: clarity, courage, and consistency.
The Cracks Begin to Show
But as the saying goes, “Time reveals everything.” Over the years, especially after the fall of TPLF and the rise of Abiy Ahmed, cracks began to appear in Sisay’s ideological armor. The first hints were subtle – less criticism of the new ruling party, more rationalization of its flaws. Slowly, the narrative changed. It was no longer about freedom, democracy, and justice; it was about defending a new regime that, ironically, began to adopt many of the repressive tactics of its predecessor.
This shift forced me to re-evaluate Sisay’s motivations. Was he truly against repression – or only against those who repressed him personally? The more I watched and listened, the more I became convinced that his fight was not rooted in principle but in personal experience. Sisay had been imprisoned under TPLF, and it seemed that his opposition to the regime was more about personal retaliation than a genuine commitment to democratic values.
This realization was painful. It felt like a betrayal – not just of his audience but of the ideals he once claimed to uphold. A true freedom fighter, one grounded in principles rather than personal vendetta, would never support a government that mirrors the very injustices he once fought.
A Mirror of What He Once Opposed
Today, under Abiy Ahmed’s regime, Ethiopia is witnessing the same – if not worse – levels of repression, surveillance, propaganda, and violence. Journalists are arrested. Opposition leaders are silenced. Civilians are massacred. And yet, Sisay remains largely silent. Worse, he appears complicit. The man who once boldly called out state abuse now rationalizes or completely ignores similar abuses – simply because they are carried out by a different actor.
Let us be clear: Abiy Ahmed’s government has committed atrocities that rival the worst of the TPLF era. The state has turned against its own citizens in places like Oromia and Amhara. And Sisay knows this. He is too intelligent, too informed, too seasoned to claim ignorance. Which brings us back to that haunting proverb: “If someone who is sleeping consciously wakes up, he will not hear.” Sisay is not unaware – he is choosing not to hear.
This is what makes his current position so dangerous. His silence is not due to lack of knowledge – it is willful. His platform, once a source of hope, now serves as a tool to justify silence, distract from suffering, and sanitize state propaganda.
A Cautionary Tale for All Who Claim to Fight for Freedom
Sisay Agena’s story is not just a personal fall from grace – it is a cautionary tale about the fragility of political integrity. It shows us how easy it is for individuals to cloak self-interest in the language of freedom. How many others who shout “liberty” today might remain quiet tomorrow, once they are on the inside of power?
If Sisay had truly been a freedom fighter, he would never stand beside Abiy Ahmed’s regime today. The difference between TPLF and Abiy’s Prosperity Party lies not in substance but in branding. The core tactics – centralized control, militarized suppression, silencing of dissent – remain painfully the same. Supporting one while condemning the other reveals not ideological evolution, but ideological bankruptcy.
It is time we stop idolizing voices simply because they once spoke the truth. We must demand consistency, accountability, and principle – especially from those who claim to speak for the people. The freedom movement in Ethiopia has suffered enough betrayal. We cannot afford to confuse political opportunism with political conviction.
As for Sisay Agena, the record is now clear. His journey – from confronting tyranny to enabling it – is complete. And in the process, he has transformed from a once-beloved freedom advocate into an active participant in the very silencing of those who still fight for freedom.
Editor’s Note : Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com
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Habte H,
Bla bla bla
Sisay is a hero, who refused to be blind folded and oppose everything like you guy :)
We can say he is fully mature, unlike some of you guys he is not representing his village, he is spreading the truth. He is also writing his own history by doing just the right thing. , yeblagn zelalem lemekawemut dede**ch… he is saved dude!
At the time of EPRDF, Sisay Agena and Eyerusalem Araya sacrificed their lives for free speech. We won’t forget their dedication and commitment.