By Naod Hailu
The regime has begun labeling the legitimate and unresolved concerns raised by health workers as a ‘fringe movement’ through its digital media. The media framed the movement as politically motivated.
The real driving force behind the planned strikes is the unresolved issues, most notably the unpaid minimum wage arrears. Unless the government takes these grievances seriously and addresses them, nationwide strikes slated soon. The regime’s message through the media suggests a deliberate attempt to link the movement with armed groups. It will also redirect the intention by blaming external forces. This is a classic authoritarian tactic using red herrings to distract from legitimate demands.
Coalition building is a powerful tool to counter the regime’s strategy of undermining the movement’s credibility. Teachers, especially university lecturers, should be primary allies in supporting the health workers’ cause, as they share similar grievances. In late 2022, teachers also planned a strike over similar issues. However, it was derailed when the regime co-opted some of the movement’s leaders by offering benefits and making empty promises. That movement even lacked backing from the teachers’ association.
As the saying goes, “a combined thread can tie the lion,” a coalition between teachers and health workers can effectively resist the regime’s delegitimization tactics. Teachers should not hesitate to join this movement in an organized and timely manner. Yet, a joint movement from these two sectors alone may not be sufficient to pressure the government effectively. Public support is essential. The deteriorating conditions of teachers and health workers directly and indirectly affect the general public. Therefore, citizens should express their soliditary in supporting the movement . Students, in particular, should be at the forefront in expressing solidarity, especially with their lecturers.
Caveat
Abiy’s regime has meticulously been working to cripple the legitimacy of such movements through employing various authoritarian techniques. A core element of despotic regimes is their commitment to creating a sense of powerlessness and fear among the populace, discouraging any challenge to the status quo. This was evident during the crisis within the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in January 2023. The Church had planned a demonstration on February 12 to protest government interference in its internal affairs, which was believed to have triggered the crisis. However, the demonstration was postponed indefinitely after the government made vague promises to resolve the issue. Several individuals who defended the Church were arrested, sending a message that dissent would be met with punishment. The problem remains unresolved, with continued government meddling.
Health workers planning to strike on Monday should learn from this and prepare accordingly.
Secondly, Abiy will likely use the state’s weak economic condition as an excuse to dismiss the health workers’ demands. However, movement leaders must expose this as a baseless argument, given the significant funds allocated to the controversial corridor development project. The project has been widely criticized for neglecting national development priorities, displacing residents without consent or compensation, and having ethnic undertones. On April 14, 2025, Amnesty International called on Abiy’s administration to halt the project “until a human rights impact assessment is conducted.”
Furthermore, the government’s massive military spending during past and ongoing wars has worsened the economic crisis, rendering the claims of financial incapacity disingenuous.
Lastly, Abiy is known for using co-option to neutralize influential figures who could pose a threat to his power. He offers benefits, including power-sharing, as seen with figures like Daniel Kibret. This tactic may also be employed to undermine the current movement.
Will This Be Evolving into a Broader Campaign for Democratic Change?
That largely depends on the regime’s response. History confirmed that when a regime responds to legitimate demands with indifference or repression, such moments can evolve into sustained social movements that lead to regime change. A recent example is Bangladesh’s July Uprising of 2024, which culminated in the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government. What began as a student-led protest against the civil service quota system grew into a widespread popular movement that brought down the regime.
Therefore, neglecting the claims and fabricating false reasons for the movement by associating with other groups will likely trigger its evolution into a broader popular uprising.
Editor’s Note : Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com
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