Editor’s Note : Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com
By: Habte H.
Ethiopia, a nation that has endured centuries of resilience and reinvention, now stands at an existential and democratic tipping point. The crises we face today are not merely due to foreign pressure or economic hardship-they are consequences of internal betrayal, political mismanagement, and unholy alliances. At the heart of this storm stand two figures: Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who has systematically dismantled the country’s federal fabric and moral compass, and Eskinder Nega, a once-respected political prisoner whose post-prison actions have caused more harm than hope. The question that many Ethiopians are now whispering-could there be a hidden connection between the two?
The Rise of Abiy: From Messianic Hope to Authoritarian Despair
When Abiy Ahmed ascended to power in 2018, many Ethiopians, including myself, dared to hope. His soft-spoken tone, grand promises of unity, and reformist language fooled a generation desperate for change. But as the saying goes, “even the devil can quote scripture for his purpose.” Abiy has proven to be not the saviour we hoped for, but perhaps one of the most arrogant and destructive leaders in modern Ethiopian history.
Since his rise, Ethiopia has witnessed unprecedented levels of violence, displacement, starvation, and chaos. Intellectuals, professionals, and students alike have been targeted or silenced. Entire communities have been uprooted. The prime minister, increasingly isolated and erratic, rules not with wisdom, but with fear, propaganda, and brute force. He has turned the state into a tool for repression, and the military into a shield for his fragile ego.
Eskinder Nega: A Dangerous Liability to Ethiopia’s Democratic Future
Eskinder Nega was once celebrated as a brave dissident, a prisoner of conscience who stood for freedom of speech. But his actions following his release from prison paint a very different picture-one of recklessness, divisiveness, and possibly betrayal.
Rather than channel his popularity and moral authority into building democratic institutions or a coherent opposition, Eskinder chose political stunts and unstrategic confrontation. He engaged in public clashes with police on Addis Ababa’s streets, posturing as a defender of the innocent. But the truth is, he was neither strategic nor disciplined, and his methods only served to undermine broader democratic efforts.
In fact, his role in fracturing the Addis Ababa vote during the last election cannot be ignored. His newly formed party (Balderas)– in a just a week before the election, untested, and poorly organized-diluted the opposition, allowing the ruling Prosperity Party to win where they otherwise would have been soundly defeated. In this way, Eskinder became Abiy’s unintentional (or perhaps intentional) ally in robbing the city’s people of their democratic voice.
From Ballots to Bullets: Eskinder’s Armed Turn and the Damage It Wrought
Eskinder’s transformation from political activist to armed rebel was sudden, suspicious, and divisive. Leaving behind the principles of peaceful struggle, he entered the armed resistance space under the pretence of defending Amhara interests. But instead of building unity, he divided the Fano movement, sowing distrust among fighters who once stood shoulder-to-shoulder.
Many now believe Eskinder’s armed faction has either directly or indirectly aligned with PP interests, weakening the broader resistance and funnelling fighters into the state’s hands. He has become a short-term opportunist (“shotelay”), constantly switching tactics and loyalties-leaving confusion and bloodshed in his wake.
This pattern raises a disturbing possibility: Could Eskinder’s missteps be more than just incompetence? Could he be intentionally undermining the resistance from within? If so, then he is not merely a liability-he is a political Trojan horse.
Two Faces, One Result: The Bleeding of a Nation
The tragedy of Ethiopia today is not only in its suffering but in the fact that millions still follow these two men. Both have mastered the art of deception-Abiy with his state machinery and pseudo-religious rhetoric, Eskinder with his martyr complex and dramatic posturing. They bleed the country in different ways, but the result is the same: death, division, and despair.
There is an old Ethiopian proverb that says, “A snake may shed its skin, but it is still a snake.” Both Abiy and Eskinder have shed many skins-peacekeeper, reformer, dissident, freedom fighter-but their actions reveal the same poisonous instincts: power at all costs, regardless of the human price.
Enough Is Enough
Ethiopia is running out of time. It cannot afford to be deceived again-not by charming speeches, not by political theatrics, and certainly not by figures who claim to defend the nation while dividing it from within. The people of Ethiopia must stop placing blind trust in personalities and start demanding accountability, strategy, and unity.
It’s time to say enough is enough-to both Abiy and Eskinder. Our survival as a people and a nation depends on reclaiming the struggle from those who hijacked it, and building a future grounded in truth, justice, and collective wisdom, not ego and betrayal.
Editor’s Note : Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com
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“Enough is Enough” must be for all Fano combatants. Fano has lost it is political momentum never to regain its legitimacy for ever . It will not take long Fano to become a rural wandering bandits .The alternative is a peace proposals which satisfy both the government and genuine fano combatants not bloody egoistic fano leaders such as Zemene kassey
Dear Mr. Habte,
A concerted campaign has been launched to defame Eskinder Nega. For reasons both known and unknown, a diaspora group has orchestrated a sustained smear effort—spreading false accusations, inciting violence, and even calling for his assassination. This group, which exerts influence over elements of Fano, has secretly aligned itself with the TPLF and vowed to dismantle AFPO, the organization Eskinder leads.
As its supporter, you claim Eskinder is responsible for dividing Fano—but there is no evidence to support this allegation. In fact, the faction you support has never managed to establish a coherent organization even in Eskinder’s absence. It is therefore absurd to blame him for their internal discord when he lacks both the motive and the means to do so.
Moreover, it has become clear that the group you back operates under TPLF pressure: it receives logistics and weaponry from the TPLF, hence undermines any genuine commitment to the Amhara cause. It is regrettable that matters have reached this impasse.
MG
Ah yes, the timeless Ethiopian pastime: when in doubt, call someone a government agent.
The author’s claim that Eskinder Nega is somehow working with Abiy or taking foreign orders isn’t analysis — it’s lazy fiction. This is a man who has been jailed, tortured, exiled, and hunted by successive regimes.
Eskinder didn’t sell out — he paid in blood, freedom, and family. Meanwhile, the author sits safely behind a keyboard stringing together paranoid nonsense, hoping slander will stick where substance fails. It’s not only dishonest — it’s pathetic.
He’s betting on our stupidity, assuming we can’t see through this recycled propaganda. But Eskinder’s record speaks louder than this coward’s cheap words. Next time, try attacking a man’s ideas instead of spinning bedtime stories for the gullible.