Voices of Truth and Deceit: Ethiopia’s Journalists and Activists at a Crossroads

By – Habte H.

Ethiopia is standing at a defining moment in its history, and time is quietly observing everyone who speaks, writes, or acts in the name of truth, justice, and national progress. I have spent years closely following the country’s most vocal journalists and political activists – those shaping public opinion, confronting power, and influencing the national conversation. With enough evidence now in hand, I believe these voices fall into five or six distinct categories. This is not merely an analysis – it reflects moral positioning and national consequence.

Group One: The Patriots of Truth

This group consists of individuals who, despite differences in opinion or political leanings, share a fundamental commitment to truth, justice, and the unity of Ethiopia. Leading this camp is Messay Mekonnen, a consistent and principled voice who has proven time and again that standing for Ethiopia’s long – term good requires moral courage and sacrifice. He, and those who align with his approach, are what I call the “True Ethiopians”.

Like the biblical analogy of the narrow and wide gates, these patriots have chosen the narrow, difficult path – one that rarely leads to fame or comfort but is rooted in conscience. Alongside Messay, we find journalists and activists such as Dereje Habteweld, Reyot Alemu, Fasil Yenealem, Abebe Gellaw, Wendimagegn Gashu, Belay Manaye, Belete Kassa, and Petros Mesfin. These individuals have demonstrated ideological consistency, journalistic integrity, and a willingness to confront both government repression and public misunderstanding.

They have endured slander, exile, harassment, and professional sabotage, yet remain committed to truth and the Ethiopian cause. They do not compromise for political popularity or donor funding. Their vision is not clouded by ethnicity or emotion. Their common thread is a love for Ethiopia that transcends self – interest. Though their country may not yet have repaid their loyalty, history undoubtedly will.

Group Two: The Self-Serving Opportunists and Enablers of Dictatorship

This second group is defined not by loyalty to Ethiopia, but by loyalty to self-interest and those in power. They operate as servants of authoritarian rulers – echoing the regime’s narrative, attacking dissenting voices, and using media platforms not to inform, but to manipulate. Their allegiance lies with power and profit, not with truth or national integrity.

Led by figures such as Siyoum Teshome, Abebe Tolla, and Sisay Agena, this group’s public presence is increasingly shaped by personal ambition, financial gain, and the politics of convenience. Their commentaries are often reactionary, emotionally charged, and devoid of analytical substance (except Sisay – who is a deliberate looser). What they lack in consistency and principle, they compensate for with performative outrage and political showmanship.

These individuals thrive on distortion, division, and demonization. They cloak themselves in shallow patriotism while working – directly or indirectly – to uphold authoritarian systems. Their activism serves to protect rulers, suppress critical voices, and distract the public from real issues, all while advancing their personal agendas.

What ultimately defines this group is narcissism, opportunism, and a dangerous adaptability. They shift positions to match prevailing winds of power, lacking any ideological core. Their loyalty is not to Ethiopia, but to whoever promises visibility, money, or influence. In doing so, they become enablers of repression and enemies of democratic discourse.

Group Three: The Ethnic Extremists

The third group is not based on individuals but on ideology. These are the ethnic hardliners – unapologetic extremists from the Oromo, Amhara, and Tigrayan camps – who operate under the banner of identity politics. They do not speak for the people; they speak for their ethnic group’s perceived superiority, victimhood, or entitlement. One person – Minalachew Simachew remains difficult to classify; his voice shifts between truth and ethnic extremism depending on the context.

Their core agenda is to divide, not unite. They exploit historical grievances, distort facts, and propagate narratives of ethnic exceptionalism or persecution to inflame tensions. These activists are not driven by a vision for Ethiopia – they are driven by a vision for dominance, revenge, or separation. Their politics is exclusionary, toxic, and often violent in implication.

They thrive in chaos, gain influence during times of national crisis, and manipulate fragile identities for political capital. This group is the most dangerous to Ethiopia’s survival as a unified nation – state.

Group four: The Misguided Patriots – Sincere but Misdirected

This group consists of individuals who genuinely believe they are serving Ethiopia, often expressing patriotic rhetoric and nationalistic passion. However, their lack of intellectual rigor, analytical depth, or independent thinking makes them highly susceptible to manipulation. In this group are activists like Eyerusalem (Jerry), Abebe Tola and Biruk. They operate in a grey zone, perhaps due to limited understanding or the pressure to stay relevant. 

Rather than shaping public opinion through critical engagement, they become echo chambers for louder voices or followers of more dominant personalities within activist circles.

These individuals are not malicious, but their influence is dangerous, nonetheless. By amplifying misleading narratives or promoting poorly thought-out political agendas, they inadvertently support divisive or unproductive discourse.

Group five: The Politically and Mentally Unstable – A Disturbing Trend

This group is the most alarming. Led by figures such as Zemedkun Bekele, Ermias Legesse, Habtamu Ayalew, Yoni Magna, Deru Zeharu …etc this cohort displays patterns of extreme political radicalism, conspiracy thinking, and personal instability. Their language is often incoherent, filled with rage, paranoia, and unfounded accusations. They veil personal vendettas and emotional breakdowns in political activism, contributing to the toxic polarization of Ethiopia’s media landscape. 

Declaring themselves “Activists”, consistently demonstrate erratic behavior, verbal aggression, and at times, deeply troubling mental instability. These individuals may require mental health evaluations rather than political platforms. Their rhetoric is not only divisive but potentially inciteful, leading to real-world consequences that can destabilize communities.

Group X: The Influential but Ethno-Centric Strategists

I have not yet addressed three of the most influential figures in Ethiopia’s activist and media landscape: Jawar Mohammed, Tewodros Tsegaye, and Daniel Berhane. Each of these individuals commands a substantial following and possesses remarkable intellectual and rhetorical skill. Indeed, their influence is so multifaceted and far-reaching that a full-length book would be required to do justice to their impact and contradictions.

What unites them is their strategic communication ability, sharp political instincts, and capacity to shape public discourse. However, their legacy is complicated by a persistent pattern: the use of their platforms and intellect to promote narrow, often ethnically framed narratives, rather than advancing a vision grounded in inclusive national unity.

Among the three, Tewodros Tsegaye (recently Jawar) stands somewhat apart – his/their tone is occasionally more nationalist, and at times he /they shows openness to broader dialogue. Still, his/their commentary often stops short of transcending deeply entrenched ethnic lines.

This group represents a powerful, polarizing force. Their intellectual potential could have served as a bridge toward a more cohesive Ethiopia. Instead, their influence has too often deepened divisions – not through lack of talent, but through the deliberate choice of agenda.

Ethiopia Will Judge All

Ethiopia is listening. Time will judge all. Those who have stood for truth, often in obscurity or ridicule, will one day be recognized. Those who have exploited her wounds, divided her people, or lied in her name will face accountability – whether historical, moral, or spiritual.

We are approaching a time of reckoning – a moment when truth will matter more than noise, and when integrity will outlast popularity. Ethiopia may seem slow to respond, but she does not forget.

In the end, it is not about which group shouts the loudest or gets the most clicks – it is about who truly loved their country enough to tell it the truth, even when no one wanted to hear it. Let us prepare for that day, for Ethiopia will pay everyone their due – in justice, in memory, or in legacy.

Editor’s Note : Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com

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