Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed pressures President Sahle Work-Zewde to step down amidst scandals over humanitarian aid and renewed conflicts, in a country still backed by the international community.
The resignation of President Sahle Work-Zewde marks a new chapter in Ethiopia’s crisis. In a nation already weighed down by poverty, inflation, and ethnic tensions, President Work-Zewde allegedly faced pressure from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to leave office before her mandate expired. Despite her public appeals for peace and reconciliation, the President was reportedly urged to step aside to avoid a potentially critical address targeting the government.
A recent Reuters report revealed that food aid provided by the United States, intended to alleviate hunger among the Ethiopian population, was systematically diverted to the federal army and black markets. Though first raised in 2021, this issue has now reached critical proportions, prompting USAID and the World Food Programme to suspend shipments. This suspension disproportionately impacts Ethiopia’s most vulnerable, where 72% of the population lives in poverty, and around 20 million people are at risk of starvation.
Ethiopia’s economic collapse and the internal conflict between the federal government and Tigray have had devastating consequences for the nation. After two years of civil war and over 500,000 deaths, the 2023 Pretoria peace agreement left many issues unresolved, triggering fresh tensions with the Amhara region, which has long demanded a reestablishment of territorial borders. In response to unkept promises, local militias known as Fano have bolstered their forces, openly challenging federal troops.
As conditions deteriorate in Amhara and the government imposes a state of emergency, human rights organizations like Human Rights Watch report alleged war crimes by the Ethiopian army, including airstrikes on civilians, schools, and hospitals, blackout restrictions, and pervasive military control. However, the censorship of news limits the information flow, and the international community’s response has been tepid, allowing a repressive approach that mainly harms civilians.
In this climate, President Sahle Work-Zewde’s resignation underlines the extent of authoritarianism in Abiy Ahmed’s government. The nation’s first female leader, Sahle Work-Zewde consistently promoted national reconciliation, principles that earned her public respect but also placed her at odds with the Prime Minister. Following her resignation, she posted a cryptic social media message: “silence is my response,” which quickly spread online.
As Ethiopia faces mounting challenges, the international community’s silence risks fueling the despair and instability of a nation teetering between humanitarian crisis and authoritarian rule.
(Associated Medias) – All rights reserved