By Zemenu Tenagne
On June 4, 2025, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed appeared in a televised interview on the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC), a government-funded outlet that unfortunately serves less as a public broadcaster and more as a voice for the regime. His latest remarks were, once again, filled with misleading statements, awkward comparisons, and disturbing contradictions—hallmarks of a leadership style that continues to drift further from the lived realities of the Ethiopian people.
Abiy Ahmed has developed a reputation for denying obvious truths. One of the most infamous examples came during the war in Tigray, when he stood before Parliament and declared that Eritrean troops had not entered Ethiopia or engaged in the conflict. This statement was later exposed as false—even by his own officials. Ato Dina Mufti, a government representative, recently stood in the same Parliament and called for Eritrean troops to leave Ethiopian territory. The contradiction is glaring. How can a leader continue to deny facts that his own administration acknowledges? Such behavior is not just dishonest—it’s a direct insult to the intelligence and awareness of the Ethiopian public.
However, the focus of this article is not merely to catalogue the Prime Minister’s repeated falsehoods. The more pressing issue is the impact of his rule on ordinary citizens—particularly the Amhara people. Since Abiy took office, the Amhara community has suffered repeated violence, displacement, and targeted marginalization. Across towns like Bahir Dar, Debre Markos, Gondar, Debre Birhan, and Dessie, peaceful protestors have come out with simple, heartfelt messages: “Do not kill us,” “Respect our rights,” “Allow us free access to our capital city.” These demonstrations have been peaceful and organized, calling for the most basic of human dignities. Yet they have been met with repression, violence, and mockery.
Rather than listen to their concerns, Abiy chose to belittle their movement. He referred to peaceful protest as an “outdated technique” and “a gamble.” In another speech, he mocked Ethiopia’s educated class by stating that their degrees “can’t buy houses or cars,” as if wealth were the only measure of value. These remarks reveal a leader who places more trust in manipulation than in truth, and more importance on materialism than on justice or public service.
In his recent EBC interview, Abiy made yet another tone-deaf comparison—this time to Europe. He said that during a visit to Europe the previous week, he heard nothing but ambulance sirens from his hotel room, implying that European cities are just as chaotic, if not worse, than Ethiopia. It’s a puzzling statement. In Europe, ambulances respond to save lives. In Ethiopia, under his leadership, we have seen soldiers take lives. According to The Economist, on May 31, 2025, Ethiopian forces killed 200 civilians in a single day in Barqat, a city in the Amhara region. There is no comparison between a functioning emergency response system and state-sponsored violence. And to suggest that Ethiopians should find comfort in the idea that death also occurs elsewhere is not just absurd—it’s deeply offensive. It signals a dangerous belief that Ethiopians should lower their expectations, that they are undeserving of peace, dignity, and justice.
The most troubling aspect of Abiy’s leadership is the way it consistently underestimates the awareness of the Ethiopian people. His speeches suggest a belief that as long as he talks with confidence, people will follow. But Ethiopians are not blind. They are informed, thoughtful, and increasingly vocal. The strategy of trying to reshape public perception with shallow comparisons and clear contradictions is not just embarrassing—it’s a betrayal of the nation’s need for honest, accountable leadership.
In conclusion, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s recent interview is just the latest example of a leadership style that thrives on denial, dismissal, and distraction. The Ethiopian people deserve better. They deserve a leader who listens, who tells the truth, and who puts the wellbeing of all citizens—regardless of ethnicity or political belief—above propaganda and power. The time has come for accountability, for real leadership, and for a renewed national commitment to justice, equality, and peace.
Editor’s Note : Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com
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