A Rejoinder to the Private Messages I Received from Berhanu Fans and PP Cadres in Response to My Recent Piece on the Disappearance of Genet Arage and the Callous Berhanu Nega.
To begin with, let me be absolutely clear: there is a troubling and growing hypocrisy in Ethiopian politics when it comes to accountability. Far too many people hesitate to name and shame individuals with well-documented records of corruption, unethical behavior, complicity in human rights abuses, or collaboration with repressive regimes.
I argue that those who object to such exposure on the grounds of “respect for privacy” are often either concealing their own questionable pasts or sympathizing with those being exposed—closet crooks or closet fascists, in effect. The only caveat to this principle is consistency: if you condemn others for such behavior, you must be willing to accept the same scrutiny if you are found to be no different.
The outing of Berhanu Nega as an anti-Amhara figure is not based on speculative accusations but grounded in his own actions. No one needed to name him explicitly—his deeds speak volumes.
Berhanu Nega and the Amhara People
Berhanu Nega rose to political prominence through multi-ethnic political movements largely powered by Amhara activists who resisted ethnic-based politics. He masterfully presented himself as a universalist, earning the trust of many Amharas who came to see him as one of their own.
In 2009, General Asaminew Tsige, Colonel Demsew, Yaregal Yimama, and I met with Berhanu in Dubai to discuss a planned coup attempt by army officers and their collaborators in the security services. These officers shared sensitive documents explaining why Amhara soldiers opposing TPLF rule were organizing along ethnic lines. To them, Berhanu’s Gurage identity didn’t matter—he was seen as a trusted ally.
Both before and after Abiy Ahmed’s rise to power, many Amharas confided in Berhanu about their ethnic concerns. I, like others, defended him against accusations of being anti-Amhara. I pointed out that his children are half-Amhara, that he barely speaks Guragigna, and that he dreams in Amharic. For years, he hid his hostility toward the Amhara cause—until recent events exposed him.
The Turning Points
- The TPLF Invasion
The first test came during the war between the TPLF and the Prosperity Party. When TPLF forces invaded the Amhara and Afar regions—inflicting immense suffering—I proposed that all political parties, ethnic or national, should unite to defend the Amhara people. This wasn’t about Amhara nationalism but about protecting civilians from an existential threat.
Many organizations agreed. But Berhanu, representing EZEMA, flatly rejected the idea. In a meeting with several witnesses from his party present, he dismissed the proposal as “stupid,” arguing that such a stance would encourage Amhara nationalism. This was despite the federal government openly admitting it couldn’t defend Amhara territories and urging civilians to take up arms. In the end, we moved forward without EZEMA’s official backing, involving Yeshiwas Assefa (then Chairperson now out of EZEMA) and Daniel Shibesh (a member now exiled) in an unofficial capacity.
- Disarming the Amhara
The next test came when Abiy decided to disarm Amharas and dismantle the Amhara Special Forces. Berhanu again sided with the regime, parroting the official line that all regional forces—including the TPLF’s—were being disarmed and dismantled. He repeated these claims despite the clear and credible evidence I presented showing that neither the TPLF had been disarmed nor were other regional special forces being dismantled. This matter was discussed in a private conversation held in front of notable figures.
Even after it became undeniable that the disarmament was selective and that Abiy’s war on the Amhara people was unjust, Berhanu refused to reconsider his stance. Instead, he became an open advocate for Abiy’s campaign—including the extrajudicial killings of civilians, such as youths shot in front of their parents in Bahir Dar. When informed that the campaign resembled the Military regime’s Red Terror of the 1970s, he dismissed the concerns.
Berhanu, the self-proclaimed human rights defender and rule-of-law advocate, remains a member of Abiy’s cabinet—a cabinet overseeing mass killings, imprisonment, torture, disappearances, and extrajudicial executions of Ethiopian citizens simply for their ethnicity.
A Deafening Silence
Berhanu said nothing when thousands of Amharas were slaughtered in Wellega and other areas in the Oromia region. He remained silent when millions were displaced. In private conversations, he defended every policy Abiy enacted in Addis Ababa, including:
The singing of the divisive OPDO ethnic anthem in schools and the display of the OPDO flag alongside the Ethiopian flag in every school.
The calculated replacement of Amhara civil servants with Oromo ethnic nationals—justified under the guise of “ethnic balance,” even though Oromos are a minority in Addis.
Berhanu supported these moves, knowing full well they resulted in the unjust firing of Amharas from positions they had long held without offering them alternative employment or compensation.
Conclusion
Berhanu Nega’s actions reveal his true allegiances. While he once postured as a champion of national unity and democratic ideals, his record on Amhara issues exposes deep-seated bias and opportunism. He refused to support Amhara’s self-defense, enabled Abiy’s unjust policies, and provided cover for systemic ethnic targeting.
The trust that many Amharas placed in him was not only misplaced—it was weaponized against them.
Andargachew, you deserve to be applauded for consistently speaking truth to power. I remember the powerful 4–5-page article you wrote seven years ago, exposing Abiy Ahmed when he was still hiding behind the Ethiopian flag and national rhetoric. Time has proven you right—Abiy has now been fully unmasked for who he truly is.
Your description of Dr. Chelemaw as “callus” was spot on—cold, indifferent, and detached from the pain of the people. That same word now applies perfectly to Berhanu Nega, whose betrayal of the Amhara people is undeniable. Once trusted and defended by many, he ultimately chose political survival over principle. His silence during massacres, his support for selective disarmament, and his complicity in Abiy’s campaign of repression have revealed where he truly stands.
And in the spirit of Abiy and his circle—who often speak in reverse—it’s only fitting to flip Berhanu’s name and call him “Dr. Chelemaw.” It’s a name now symbolic of betrayal, moral decay, and cold-hearted opportunism. To understand Abiy and his cronies just reverse their words: n becomes u, p turns into b, and w flips into M. A man once seen as a unifier is now nothing more than a mouthpiece for a regime waging war on the very people who once stood by him.
So, Ethiopians—watch out for the wolves in sheep’s fur. Get united and checkmate the evil Abiy and his cronies before they destroy Ethiopia. The time to act is now.