Borkena
Toronto – Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed used the occasion of “Nations and Nationalities Day” to deliver a pointed political message, emphasizing themes of diversity and unity amid ongoing conflicts in the country.
The event, held in Arba Minch, South Ethiopia, marks the 19th edition of a holiday that underscores Ethiopia’s ethnic federalist framework, a system rooted in the 1995 constitution. While slogans such as “Diversity is the foundation of our unity” adorned the stadium, critics argue that the focus on ethnicity has fueled violence and instability rather than fostering cohesion.
Federal officials, including Abiy Ahmed and his wife, attended the event, arriving a day early. Video footage of the Prime Minister riding a motorbike through the streets of Arba Minch generated mixed reactions online, with critics satirizing the display and supporters interpreting it as a sign of his connection with ordinary citizens.
In his speech, Abiy hailed the holiday as “one of the greatest,” suggesting that such celebrations play a critical role in strengthening Ethiopia’s multi-ethnic unity. He also invoked a spiritual tone, saying, “We do not rely on our Prosperity Party members or the army. We believe in the Almighty God.”
Call for Peace Amid Ongoing Conflicts
Abiy used the platform to appeal to rebel groups in the Oromia and Amhara regions. “Others should follow the path of those who chose peace,” he said, referencing a faction of the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) that reportedly signed a peace deal with the government in the Oromia region. Borkena previously reported on this deal, but another faction of the OLA dismissed the agreement as farcical, alleging that the signatories were expelled members, and claiming the deal was orchestrated by the government for political purposes.
This conciliatory tone contrasts with Abiy’s recent remarks during the fifth anniversary of his Prosperity Party. Last week, he declared, “They [rebel forces] cannot defeat us even if they fight for one thousand years.”
Complex Rebel Dynamics
The Ethiopian government has consistently framed rebel groups as either criminals or terrorists. In the Amhara region, Fano militias are accused of attempting to restore a centralized governance system, challenging the ethnic federalist structure.
Abiy, once lauded for his peace efforts with Eritrea, now faces mounting internal conflicts. The two-year war with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) left an estimated one million dead and significantly weakened the country.
Eight months after the TPLF conflict ended, Abiy’s government launched a military operation in the Amhara region to disarm Fano militias. Despite a six-month state of emergency, Fano forces have reportedly grown stronger and now control much of the region. Meanwhile, insurgencies in the Oromia region persist, with the government struggling to contain the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF).
Drone Strikes Raise Questions
Abiy’s calls for peace come amid reports of intensified drone strikes in the Amhara region. Strikes targeting civilian areas, including homes, health centers, and schools, have reportedly resulted in significant casualties.
This week alone, multiple drone strikes have been reported, with one incident in Dawunt, North Wollo, killing 50 civilians. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission confirmed it is investigating the reports.
__
Join our Telegram Channel : t.me/borkena
Like borkena on Facebook
Add your business to Ethiopian Business Listing / Ethiopian Business Directory
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
At the same time, Trump said he’s open to working with Democrats to preserve the legal status of “Dreamers” — an often-used term for immigrants who were brought to the US as children — even as he stood by campaign pledges of mass deportations and ending birthright citizenship.
“We have to do something about the Dreamers, because these are people that have been brought here at a very young age, and many of these are middle-aged people now. They don’t even speak the language of their country. And yes, we’re going to do something about that,” Trump said in a “Meet the Press” interview with NBC’s Kristen Welker that taped Friday, his first broadcast sit-down since he was elected.
Trump said his administration’s mass deportation efforts will target people with criminal histories, but indicated it could go beyond deporting criminals — without specifying who the “other people outside of criminals” would be. When asked whether he plans to deport every person who has entered the country illegally, he said, “I think you have to do it.”
“It’s a very tough thing to do,” he said, adding, “you know, you have rules, regulations, laws. They came in illegally.”
Asked about families with mixed immigration status — where parents are in the country illegally but their children are not — Trump said, “I don’t want to be breaking up families, so the only way you don’t break up the family is you keep them together, and you have to send them all back.”
edition.cnn.com/2024/12/08/politics/trump-plans-immigration-pardons-nbc-interview/index.html