Is Ethiopian President under pressure from Abiy Ahmed’s administration?
borkena
Toronto – Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde ‘s message on her personal X (formerly Twitter) page ,which she shared on Saturday, is triggering speculations about her state of existence under Abiy Ahmed’s government.
The three lines of messages she shared in Amharic languages using the ancient script in Africa sounds deeply emotional – one that expresses a state of unhappiness.
She used lyrics from Prominent Ethiopian singers to convey the message as seen in the screenshot below :
Her message translates to “Tilahun Gessese, Teddy Afro, Ali Bira, Mahmud Ahmed …are among gems of vocalists. “When a person feels sorrow, when pushed by time just like when a man pushes ; when there is no way out; the only hope is silence.”
The fact that she used her own personal account to convey the message is interpreted by Ethiopian activists opposing the Abiy Ahmed Administration as a sign of political repression by Abiy Ahmed’s administration which is said to be dominated by patrons of Oromumma ideology with strong political power.
President Sahle-Work Zewde has been occasionally expressing differences in the way the government is handling the situation in the country. When she made a speech in February this year on the occasion of the inauguration of the Adwa Museum, she called on all to “come to their senses” as the way to resolve the ongoing conflict is only dialogue as she put it.
In April this year, she made another speech at the Haile Grand in Addis Ababa. She was even bolder that time. She said “we can not continue like this” making a reference to the state of conflict in the country. She said “there is no problem in Ethiopia to initiate a dialogue ; the problem is to implement it and the activities are lip service. “We can not continue like this‘,” as reported by borkena at the time.
She has been also voicing concern about the relentless persecution of Ethiopian Orthodox Church followers and priests. Most of the time it happens in the Oromia region of Ethiopia.
Ethio Chronicles on Saturday wrote that the president is “under constant surveillance, and her security detail monitors her every move. For over a year, she has been seen as a liability to Abiy Ahmed’s administration having publicly opposing Oromo Prosperity Party violence and never ending wars.”
What is clear, from her message on x, is that she is in a state of disenchantment.
Abiy Ahmed’s government earlier this week declared what it called a “final military campaign” in the Amhara region of Ethiopia deploying over 40,000 new forces on top of those who were already posted to the region.
According to a U.S. based ethnic Amhara advocacy organization, over 3000 civilians have been killed in the region since the government declared war in August 2023. However, the figure indicates only reported ones. Due to communication blackout and restriction of journalists and human rights advocates, the persecution in the Amhara region is underreported.
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If H.E. President Sahle-Work Zewde is retiring, it would be a well deserved one. She has brought grace to the office just like her predecessors since 1995. She is a few years younger than I am and have passed the mark well beyond the retirement age. You deserve it, Madam. Now go back home and be kept busy by your adoring grandchildren. I can tell you that you will never have a dull moment.
21 February 1950
Ittu Aba Farda 3? Febru?ry 1944
She displayed selfishness and instability toward the People of Ethiopia, lacking both support and trust. Coming from a feudal background, she has never embraced progressive or forward-thinking ideals.
She seems nice and has a long work history but what has she really done for our country?
Nothing!