September 2025 – The Habesha News Desk
Serious questions continue to surround the academic background of Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed. Despite his claims of holding advanced degrees, The Habesha has been unable to find credible evidence that Abiy ever pursued formal education beyond the 7th grade.
Early Schooling and Dropout
The only testimony available comes from an old schoolmate, who recalls that Abiy dropped out after the 7th grade and went on to serve as a ground soldier for the Oromo People’s Democratic Organization (OPDO). Beyond this, no verifiable school records have been found to document his progression through secondary or higher education.
Dubious Degrees
Abiy has publicly claimed a bachelor’s degree from an institution that does not exist, along with a supposed master’s degree that no university has stepped forward to validate. In recent years, he also presented what he described as a PhD from Addis Ababa University. However, no faculty member from the university has confirmed awarding him such a degree. Critics argue that if this credential were genuine, the credibility of Addis Ababa University would be severely compromised given the lack of transparency surrounding it.
A Manufactured Profile?
The evidence suggests that Abiy Ahmed never studied beyond the 7th grade and that his academic record was deliberately constructed to bolster his political profile. Observers note that the presentation of questionable academic achievements coincided with his rise through Ethiopia’s political hierarchy, providing a veneer of intellectual legitimacy that has never been independently verified.
As public debate intensifies, calls are growing for greater scrutiny of Abiy’s claimed qualifications. For many Ethiopians, the controversy underscores a broader pattern of opacity and manipulation in the current government—raising uncomfortable questions about how truth and credibility have been compromised at the highest levels of leadership.