By Zemenu
Journalist Mesay Mekonnen has released a shocking phone recording with Major General Tesfaye Ayalew, a senior commander in the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s administration. In the conversation, the General openly discusses the ongoing use of drone warfare targeting civilians in the Amhara region.
During the call, the General makes a chilling conditional offer: “Okay, we in the ENDF could stop the drone bombings on the Amhara people if you and your colleagues agree to sit down and discuss matters with our Chief, Field Marshal Berhanu Jula.” By “colleagues,” he referred to all individuals and groups opposing Abiy Ahmed’s government. This statement suggests that drone strikes are being used as leverage—political tools designed to silence dissent and force negotiations under pressure.
Tesfaye admits that drone strikes and advanced weaponry are being used regularly in the Amhara region, with civilians often among the victims. These are not described as mistakes or collateral damage; rather, they appear to be deliberate acts of intimidation. This disturbing claim aligns with a statement originally issued by the U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia on May 23, 2025. In that initial version, the embassy explicitly urged the Ethiopian government to stop drone attacks on its own citizens. However, the statement was later edited, and the reference to “drones” was removed—an omission many view as a politically motivated softening of the language.
Mesay Mekonnen, once an ardent supporter of Prime Minister Abiy who even took part in state media propaganda during the Tigray war, has now become a strong critic. He accuses the Prime Minister of turning Ethiopia from a fragile democracy into an authoritarian regime—one that targets individuals based solely on their ethnic identity and suppresses any form of opposition.
In the call, Mesay expresses personal remorse for his earlier stance, stating: “If I ever feel regret in my life, it is for the time I served under Abiy’s regime.” Yet, despite this admission, General Tesfaye urges Mesay not to reveal sensitive military information and encourages him to work with senior officials like Marshal Berhanu Jula rather than continuing his public opposition. This contradiction reveals internal conflict and fear even among high-ranking military officers.
Several alarming insights emerge from this conversation:
• Confirmation of Drone Strikes — A top ENDF official confirms that drone attacks are being carried out in the Amhara region, indicating these operations are not rogue actions but centrally approved and coordinated.
• Weaponization of Military Power — Drone technology, intended for national defense, is being used as a tool of internal repression against civilians.
• Suppression of Dissent and Press Freedom — The General’s warning to Mesay reflects the government’s broader effort to silence journalists, intimidate critics, and tightly control the national narrative.
One of the most powerful moments in the conversation comes when Mesay directly challenges the General: “You are killing innocent people only to protect a man called Abiy. If you really care about innocent citizens, the violence must stop immediately.” His words echo the growing outrage among Ethiopians who view these attacks not as acts of war, but as atrocities committed against their own people.
On the night of May 26, 2025, the devastating consequences of this policy became unmistakably clear. Five members of a single family were killed in a drone strike in a rural kebele about 21 kilometers from Jiga town, in the West Gojjam zone. Local farmers confirmed that the victims had no political affiliations. Their funeral was held the next day, May 27, at St. George Church, where grief quickly gave way to public anger and demands for justice.
Stopping these barbaric drone attacks on civilians by Abiy Ahmed’s administration is the responsibility of the entire world that values human life.
Editor’s Note : Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com
__
Subscribe : https://borkena.com/subscribe-borkena/
Join our Telegram Channel : t.me/borkena
Like borkena on Facebook
Add your business to Ethiopian Business Listing / Ethiopian Business Directory Business Listing Toronto
Join the conversation. Follow us on X (Formerly Twitter) @zborkena to get the latest Ethiopian News updates regularly. Subscribe to YouTube channel To share information or for submission, send e-mail to info@borkena.com
Major General Tesfaye Ayalew? The name does not sound someone pushing that ‘Umma’ thing, to me. Let’s see. That is not a Filipino or Cherokee name and obviously not an Oromo name. Ummm…. An Amhara name, may be?