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ጠቅላይ ሚኒስትር ዐቢይ አሕመድ (ዶ/ር) ከአሚኮ ጋር ያደረጉት ልዩ ቃለ መጠይቅ | ወቅታዊ ሀገራዊ እና የክልሉ ጉዳዮች | Pm Abiy Ahmed | Amhara
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Key takeaways
Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed’s Interview: Political Direction Since “the Change”
In an interview with Amhara Media Corporation (Amico), Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed discusses Ethiopia’s political direction since “the change” (the political transition). He emphasizes Ethiopia’s long-running Amhara–Oromo coexistence and argues that recent crises—especially the “June 15 incident”—should be understood as the result of poor judgment and destructive political behavior, not a lack of historical Ethiopian integration.
1) Amhara–Oromo Coexistence and Ethiopia’s Historical Integration
Abiy frames Ethiopian unity as historically grounded in centuries of social and political interlinking between the Amhara and Oromo peoples, including:
- Intermarriage and “political marriages” used to secure alliances and power.
- Long regional histories—such as the Shewa Sultanates, Ifat, and eras involving Shewa, Gondar, Gojjam, Wollo, and southern regions—showing:
- Migration
- Alliance-making
- Shared campaigns across ethnic lines.
He argues that this integration helped Ethiopia achieve major achievements and resist fragmentation. He cites a principle often summarized as:
“If there is Menelik, there is no chance that Menelik can create peaceful Ethiopia.”
Meaning: unity was created by merging peoples through shared struggle, rather than excluding groups.
2) What “the Change” Meant for Amhara and Ethiopia
Abiy contrasts:
- “Before the change”: political closure and suffocation
- “After the change”: opening, hope, and breathing space
He uses a metaphor:
- Politics before the change is like a closed, stuffy house
- Reform is like opening “windows” to let in fresh air—political and economic space
However, he also claims the opening created vulnerabilities. Some actors allegedly tried to turn hope into instability by using populist noise and aligning with forces that undermine Ethiopia’s national interests.
3) Explaining the “June 15” Incident and Its Legacy
Abiy presents June 15 as rooted in two main problems:
- Poor assessment — pursuing goals without enough information or design, where enthusiasm outweighs careful planning.
- “Trying to do it with both feet” — shifting toward an “unholy marriage” with establishment forces while trying to dominate events, resulting in factional coordination not led by a single government or party.
He links June 15 to a recurring Ethiopian pattern: attempts to gain power through violent or coercive means instead of dialogue.
The “three scars”
He says the incident left Ethiopia with three lasting harms:
- Loss of “change agents” — key figures who supported reform through close planning and coordination.
- Deepened political instability — reducing trust among people and groups.
- Corruption of political culture — glorifying violence and undermining dialogue.
He adds that later conspiracy narratives and distorted accounts spread further harm—encouraging chaos and preventing learning from the truth.
4) Diaspora and Shifting Political Positions
Abiy argues that Amhara diaspora opposition or support is not uniquely responsible; similar shifts happen across diasporas generally.
He groups side-switching into three types:
- Miscalculation and personal entitlement — believing individuals “own” the change and demanding it follow their preferences.
- Opportunism — seeking asylum, money, or clout through persistent insults and later reverting behavior.
- Genuine concerns — from people who feel unheard; he treats these as requiring engagement, explanation, and listening.
5) Borders/Identity and the Wolkait Dispute: Why It Needs Dialogue
When asked about Amhara grievances—including borders and identity, especially Wolkait—Abiy argues these issues require long-term political solutions that ensure:
- Peace
- Constitutional processes
- Participation beyond a single party or region
He strongly argues that resolving Wolkait by pleasing only one side would not create lasting peace and could trigger renewed conflict.
Inclusive approach
He frames Wolkait as requiring Inclusive National Dialogue, consultation, and legal constitutional mechanisms—including principles consistent with a referendum—rather than unilateral decisions.
He also warns that:
- Movement and negotiation should be part of a broader “balance” and “full view”
- Short-term relief can become a “ticking time bomb.”
6) Critique of Earlier Political Structures and Defense of “Medemer” Governance
Abiy criticizes earlier internal political arrangements under predecessors for:
- Weak or distorted minority rights participation within ruling party structures.
- Institutional and political inequality/inclusiveness problems—representation not matching constitutional and national diversity expectations.
- A harmful exclusivist culture of “only one can govern,” arguing for broader coalition and participation.
Defense of “Medemer”
He defends the current governance approach (“Medemer”) using Ethiopian cultural metaphors:
- “Poetry” as communication and listening
- Debu (collective farming) as a model for gathering scattered resources and creating new outcomes
- Reconciliation/mediation/compensation as a historical method for resolving conflicts over ethnicity, land claims, power, and faith
- Institution building as essential—power limits and governance continuity mechanisms support stability and development
7) Overall Prescription
Abiy concludes that change is not a one-time event but a process requiring:
- Learning
- Patience
- Education
- Resilience
He urges Ethiopians—especially Amhara and other peoples—to see each other with patience while strengthening institutions and pursuing dialogue to secure lasting peace.
Presenters / Contributors
- Dr. Abiy Ahmed (Prime Minister of Ethiopia) — interviewee
- Amhara Media Corporation (Amico) — interviewer/publisher (no specific individual name given)