By Sirak Zena
June 6, 2025
Introduction:
Ethiopia stands at a historic crossroads, facing a moment of truth that will define future generations. Our nation, rich in history and diversity, now teeters on the edge of an abyss where political discourse and social cohesion are rapidly dissolving. This moment represents more than just another chapter in our intricate political story; it could be a pivotal turning point for Ethiopia as we know it. Our political leaders need to come together and address this unique challenge.
The crisis before us transcends the usual boundaries of political disagreement. We face not just a failure of governance but a fundamental breakdown in dialogue among those who should be architects of our future. While the nation bleeds from countless wounds, our political elites remain trapped within narrow ethnic frameworks, clutching isolated solutions and retreating behind walls of silence and inaction.
This crisis is further deepened by those who, cloaked in academic credentials, actively enable and justify oppression inside Ethiopia. While some remain silent out of fear, others have become willing instruments of suppression, using their intellectual authority to confuse, mislead, and rationalize the indefensible.
This piece serves as a stark warning and an urgent call to action. It challenges the justifications of silence and fatigue that have become the refuge of too many political leaders, confronts the dangerous illusion of unilateral solutions, and challenges the comfortable narratives of ethnic exclusivity. More importantly, it charts a clear path forward through the fog of our current crisis—a path that can only be walked through genuine dialogue and collective action.
The message is clear: The time for performative politics and ethnic grandstanding has passed. Either we engage in meaningful dialogue now or risk losing everything we hold dear. The choice—and the consequences—belong to all of us, but particularly to those who claim the mantle of political leadership in these critical times.
As we examine Ethiopia’s current predicament in detail, the gravity of our situation becomes painfully clear.
I. The Current State: A Nation at the Precipice
Our nation stands at the brink of chaos, descending into a Hobbesian nightmare where the social contract lies in tatters—we are in a state of nature. This is not hyperbole but a stark reality. In Ethiopia, we observe Hobbes’ assertion regarding the absence of established laws or authority and the emphasis on self-preservation in the absence of a social contract. Previously seen as the foundation of rights, justice, security, and administrative structure, the tenets of ethnic federalism now disintegrate in the face of a crisis that recognizes no such divisions due to the regime’s authoritarian governance.
From Tigray to Oromia, from Addis Ababa to the Somali region, from the highlands of the Amhara region to Benishangul, from Sidama to the Gambela regions—this existential threat by the regime knows no ethnic boundaries, respects no federal limits and divisions, and spares no community. This reality has shattered the illusion of ethnic enclaves as safeguards; the regime made it the ground of violence.
Ethiopia’s reality today is apparent: no single faction, regardless of fervor or grievances, can unilaterally solve the nation’s multifaceted challenges. The path to resolution lies not in ideological dominance or ethnic supremacy but in the painstaking work of civic discourse and the relentless pursuit of common ground.
Those who cling to narrow ethnic identities as shields against national collapse are embracing a deadly fantasy. Every Ethiopian, regardless of ethnicity or region, stands vulnerable before this gathering storm. Those who remain passive or cling to hollow optimism are unwittingly contributing to their own undoing.
Adding to this crisis, our nation faces unprecedented economic devastation. While war tears at our fabric, rampant unemployment ravages our youth, inflation devours household incomes, and salary stagnation traps millions in poverty. Basic survival has become a daily struggle as the cost of living soars.
Amid this devastation, the regime’s priorities reveal a cruel irony: while our people struggle to afford bread, the government invests in weapons of war. Instead of infrastructure or manufacturing plants that could provide jobs, precious foreign currency is spent on drones, tanks, and ammunition for endless conflicts. Our national wealth bleeds away into destruction rather than development.
Ethiopia faces political fragmentation and economic disintegration. No new infrastructure revitalizes our cities, no manufacturing plants offer employment, and no economic reforms address our people’s challenges. The regime’s war economy diverts resources from development to destruction, from growth to conflict, and from the people’s needs to the machinery of war.
This economic crisis may well become the regime’s undoing. When people cannot feed their families, youth see no future, and the middle class disappears under inflation, even the most sophisticated weapons cannot maintain power. The regime’s choice to prioritize war over economic development may be a fatal miscalculation.
Compounding this, the regime’s ambition to wage war against Eritrea for port access threatens to reshape Ethiopia’s political landscape. This reckless move could trigger a shift in regional alliances, potentially driving the Tigray and Amhara regions, once adversaries, into alignment with Eritrea. Such a realignment could spell disaster for the regime and destabilize a fragile nation.
While the nation teeters on this precipice, a dangerous void has emerged at the highest levels of political leadership.
II. The Void in Leadership: Political Elites’ Retreat from Dialogue
The “echoes in the void” reverberating through Ethiopia’s intellectual landscape extend beyond online comment sections or academic silence. They resonate with equal, if not greater, intensity within the nation’s political sphere, where civic discourse among political elites has vanished.
Entrenched in ethnic loyalties and rigid ideological positions, Ethiopia’s political elites are ensnared in mutual mistrust and partisan paralysis. This impasse has resulted in a profound failure of negotiation and a dangerous vacuum of national leadership. Critical issues concerning constitutional reform, governance structures, transitional arrangements, and national unity remain unresolved—not due to a lack of proposals, but due to a crippling absence of dialogue.
A recurring theme in numerous YouTube discussions and articles, and individually supported by political elites, remains a chant without tangible results: the elites must reconcile their differences and collaborate. Yet, refusing to compromise, communicate, or converge around shared national interests has led to widespread public despair. Citizens see no unified opposition or credible democratic alternative—only fragmented actors repeating grievances as the regime strengthens its grip. The author clearly understands that politics often revolves around grievances. However, as Teddy Roosevelt famously stated, “Complaining about a problem without proposing a solution is called whining.”
To the political elites: your silence is not a strategic choice but an abdication of responsibility—a surrender of your duty to the nation. If opposition elites cannot convene, communicate honestly, and negotiate openly, they forfeit any authentic claim to represent the people’s future. The path forward lies not in ideological purity but in collaboration, not in echo chambers but in hard-won consensus.
While some political elites retreat into silence, others have chosen an even more damaging path.
III. The Betrayal of Conscience: Elite Enablers of Oppression
History bears witness to a disturbing pattern: intellectuals who transform from guardians of truth into architects of oppression. Jean-Paul Sartre, who proclaimed intellectuals as the “moral conscience of their age,” would be appalled by some Ethiopian scholars who have abandoned this sacred responsibility. These intellectuals, who should illuminate truth, have instead cast shadows of confusion and justification over the regime’s actions.
Throughout history, we’ve witnessed a troubling phenomenon: distinguished intellectuals aligning themselves with oppressive regimes and supporting unjust wars. A striking example is Martin Heidegger, one of the 20th century’s most influential philosophers. Despite his intellectual prowess, Heidegger’s legacy is forever tarnished by his endorsement of the Nazi regime. He not only supported the party but also accepted the position of rector at Freiburg University under Nazi rule. This case illustrates a broader pattern where scholars, despite their erudition, sometimes become complicit in systems of oppression, challenging our assumptions about the relationship between intellectual achievement and moral judgment.
In Ethiopia, we observe a similar pattern of intellectual complicity with power. Many of our own scholars have accepted ministerial and other positions within the current regime, mirroring Heidegger’s acceptance of a rectorship under Nazi rule. Even more troubling, some senior intellectuals, from whom we might expect wisdom and critical reflection, have become propagandists on state-affiliated YouTube channels. These actions, often justified under the banner of nationalism or ideological necessity, echo historical instances of intellectual compromise. However, beneath these rationalizations lies a disturbing reality: the pursuit of personal gain and a fundamental lack of integrity. Like Heidegger, these intellectuals risk tarnishing their legacies and betraying their societal responsibilities by aligning with oppressive structures.
In the Ethiopian context, this troubling trend manifests as some scholars utilize their platforms to endorse war under the pretext of national and economic security or ideological necessity. They portray violence as a necessary path to a greater good, even as they downplay the humanitarian catastrophes their rhetoric helps sustain.
What makes this situation particularly disgraceful is the diversity of scholars who have betrayed the people by aligning themselves with an autocratic government. While some may have had the will for power and initially sought political power within the Ethiopian political arena, they ultimately surrendered their principles, will, and their people and members in favor of subservience to the regime, revealing their inherent weakness in the face of immediate, selfish interests.
As with many autocratic systems worldwide that thrive on deception, some Ethiopian intellectuals have sadly followed suit, endorsing and actively participating in a regime that sustains itself through manipulation, suppression, and violence. They have forsaken the ideals and meanings they once championed, trading their integrity for a place within a corrupt system. Despite their willingness to participate in such moral decay, they appear utterly devoid of any sense of guilt or accountability. It’s a betrayal of their intellect and a profound failure of conscience that demands condemnation.
To these intellectual mercenaries: Your academic credentials cannot mask the moral bankruptcy of your positions. As Sartre emphasized, our choices are always value-based and carry implications far beyond the individual. When you deploy your expertise to justify oppression, when you use your scholarly platform to rationalize violence, you become more than mere observers—you become active participants in the machinery of suffering of the people of Ethiopia.
The sophistication of your arguments makes your betrayal all the more egregious. You cannot claim ignorance—your training has given you the tools to recognize truth from propaganda. Yet you choose, with full awareness, to become merchants of deception. Your willing participation in the machinery of oppression, your eager distortion of facts to serve power, mark you not as scholars but as crude propagandists.
Remember this: When the page of history turns—and it will turn—no amount of academic jargon will obscure your role. In the end, your complicity with the autocratic regime will be exposed using the same rigorous reasoning you currently use to defend injustice. Future generations will study your actions not as scholarship but as case studies in the corruption of intellectual integrity.
The legal processes you now help subvert may one day be turned toward examining your role in these dark times. Your interviews and political analysis justifying oppression, stretching yourself to promote an unjust war, will become evidence of your complicity. Your intricate defenses of the unjustifiable will serve as evidence against you in the court of history.
The collapse of civic engagement has created yet another crisis within our nation.
IV. The Collapse of Civic Engagement
As armed factions clash in two regions against the regime for their rights and survival, citizens endure economic hardship and repression. As if the agony caused by the two wars and the economic hardship weren’t enough, the regime appears to have plans to wage war against Eritrea to seize the port of Assab or beyond and eliminate the group that resists the regime, the TPLF, in the Tigray region, plunging the country into chaos.
Amidst all these realities, political leaders have retreated to the role of spectators, observing from behind barriers of silence and inaction. Should the fragile regime system disintegrate—whether through armed struggle, peaceful resistance, economic collapse, or democratic decline—the people and the nation may suffer. The people are caught between unresponsive political elites and authoritarian rule, facing the highest costs of this civic breakdown.
Ethiopia does not suffer from a lack of ideas but from a lack of political will to engage in meaningful civic discourse. The widespread public despair stems not from a shortage of solutions but from the political elite’s refusal to compromise, communicate, or converge around shared national interests.
This article urgently calls for moral clarity, civic courage, and finding solutions. If opposition elites cannot convene, communicate honestly, and negotiate openly, they forfeit any authentic claim to represent the people’s future. The path forward lies not in ideological purity but in collaboration, not in echo chambers but in hard-won consensus. Without this shift, political elites will continue to be part of the problem rather than the solution.
The path to resolution does not lie in ideological dominance or ethnic supremacy but in the painstaking work of civic discourse and the relentless pursuit of common ground. This is not merely a suggestion—it is an imperative.
History will not evaluate wishes and intentions; it will assess outcomes. At this critical juncture, the result of your fragmentation is national stagnation.
This leadership vacuum has created another dangerous phenomenon: the illusion of unilateral solutions.
V. The Fallacy of the Perfect Key
Let this hard truth be heard by all who claim to hold the singular solution to our nation’s crisis: We are not in 2018. Your “perfect key” is nothing but a locksmith’s fantasy if forged in isolation. To those who stride confidently with their self-crafted solutions, convinced of their exclusive wisdom, hear this—you are carrying nothing more than an amateur’s attempt at national lockpicking.
These unilateral ‘solutions,’ forged in the isolation of individual political factions, are fundamentally flawed. While they may appear convincing to their creators and immediate supporters, they lack the collective insight necessary to address Ethiopia’s complex challenges. A truly effective solution capable of unlocking our nation’s future must be crafted through inclusive dialogue, incorporating diverse perspectives from all stakeholders. It must be rigorously tested against the intricate realities of our multi-ethnic, multi-cultural society and diverse political views. Through this collaborative process, we can only create a ‘key’ that fits the complex lock of Ethiopia’s stability and progress.
No matter how well-conceived your proposed solution may seem, it remains incomplete until it is tested, refined, and reshaped through an inclusive national dialogue. No single political faction or ethnic group, no matter how wise or well-intentioned, can craft the master key alone. The mechanism of our crisis is far too complex for such simplistic approaches.
The only viable path forward is through the humble acknowledgment that your “key” is but one draft among many, waiting to be tested, modified, and merged with others through authentic dialogue. Your solution becomes legitimate only when it passes through the workshop of collective deliberation, where it can be examined, debated, refined, and ultimately transformed into something that works for all.
Until then, clutching your untested key with stubborn certainty is not just futile—it’s dangerous. It’s time to lay these individual keys on the national dialogue table, ready to see them melted down and reforged into something that truly works. The lock that holds our nation’s future will only yield to a key shaped by many hands, tested by many perspectives, and agreed upon by all who share this common door we must open together.
The Urgent Need for a United Opposition Roadmap
Let us speak with brutal clarity: The path to regime change—whether through peaceful resistance, armed struggle in Oromia and Amhara, or economic collapse—is irrelevant without a unified opposition plan. The form of struggle that ultimately succeeds matters far less than what follows.
This is the stark reality we face: any victory achieved without thorough preparation, regime collapse occurring without coordinated opposition, or change implemented without broad consensus will not lead to liberation but to national disintegration. The current fragmentation among opposition forces is sowing the seeds of future chaos. Whether the regime falls due to armed conflict, popular uprising, or economic collapse, the result will be the same—a devastating cycle of poverty, instability, and, ultimately, state failure. The consequences of such a scenario would be catastrophic: the dissolution of our nation as we know it. We must act swiftly and decisively to avert this dire outcome and establish a cohesive strategy that unites all opposition forces. We hope to navigate the turbulent waters of regime change and emerge as a stronger, more stable nation through such unity.
To all opposition forces: Your singular strategies for achieving change, no matter how effective, are insufficient. The critical question is not how the current system ends but what replaces it. Without an organized opposition structure, without a clear national salvation plan agreed upon by all major stakeholders, and without mechanisms for transition already in place, any “victory” will be pyrrhic—a success that contains the seeds of greater failure within it.
The time for creating this unified opposition framework is not after the regime falls—it is now. Tomorrow’s stability cannot be built on today’s fragmentation. Either organize and create a comprehensive roadmap immediately, or condemn our nation to chaos, regardless of how change comes.
Moving beyond these individual ‘perfect keys,’ we must confront the urgent necessity of collective dialogue.
VI. The Imperative of Elite Dialogue
Let us speak plainly to our political elites across all divides: Your grievances, rooted in historical injustices and ethnic concerns, hold legitimacy. Each narrative of suffering, marginalization, and calls for recognition reflects deeply held feelings and experiences that deserve attention and consideration, and some of them need honest discussion. But now, the luxury of endless recitation of past wounds must yield to the urgency of present danger.
The time has come for a radical shift in approach. Our political leaders must rise above the comfortable confines of narrow ethnic agendas. The nation bleeds not from one wound but from a thousand cuts. While you stand in separate corners, cataloging injuries and nurturing grievances, the ground beneath all our feet turns to quicksand.
To our political class, hear this: Your primary obligation now is not to your ethnic constituencies alone but to Ethiopia’s survival itself. The table of dialogue stands ready. Take your seats not as representatives of fractured interests but as architects of national salvation. The questions before you are stark: Will you choose the path of genuine dialogue over performative politics? Will you trade the currency of grievance for the wealth of collaborative solutions?
The harsh reality of Ethiopia today is that its governance structure is heavily centralized around a single dominant figure. This leader, surrounded by a cadre of loyal supporters within the Prosperity Party, wields disproportionate influence across all regions. This concentration of power undermines the principles of federalism and democratic representation, leading to widespread discontent and disenfranchisement among diverse communities nationwide.
This is not a call to abandon legitimate concerns but to transcend them through meaningful dialogue and concrete action. The nation demands more than rhetoric – it requires the courage to engage, compromise, and forge a new consensus. The time for political theater and ethnic grandstanding has passed. Either collaborate in good faith to chart our collective course or bear the responsibility for what follows.
Yet, a deafening silence persists even as the imperative for dialogue becomes clear.
VII. Breaking the Silence: Beyond Excuses and Inaction
Prolonged silence, retreat from responsibility, and hesitation to re-engage are deeply concerning patterns in this critical hour—ones that our nation can no longer afford. While some retreat into their shells of comfortable passivity, claiming exhaustion from past failures or disillusionment with previous attempts, the fabric of our society continues to unravel.
Let us be crystal clear: your silence will not shield you, your hibernation offers no sanctuary, and your fatigue provides no exemption from the gathering storm. Every moment spent in self-imposed isolation is a betrayal of both your ethnic group’s interests and our collective survival.
Dialogue—fierce, honest, and sustained—remains our only lifeline. It is not merely one option among many; it is the only path that leads away from the abyss. Those who stay silent today may find themselves voiceless in tomorrow’s crisis. The time for dialogue is not tomorrow, not after conditions improve, not when others make the first move—it is now. Either we engage in this challenging but necessary conversation as equals, or we will all face the consequences of our cowardly silence as victims.
This persistent silence becomes even more dangerous when we consider the potential consequences of our inaction.
VIII. Walking Blindfolded into the Abyss: Ethiopia’s Elites and the Unprepared Aftermath
Let us be brutally honest: Ethiopia teeters not only on the brink of collapse but dangerously close to a catastrophic freefall. As mentioned above, two devastating wars already rage unchecked in the heart of the nation, in the Oromia and Amhara regions, ripping apart the social fabric and eroding any semblance of national stability. As if this relentless agony were insufficient, the regime, blinded by its hunger for power and survival, prepares to ignite further fires of conflict, eyeing Eritrea and potentially plunging Tigray back into turmoil. Amid this staggering violence, an economy in shambles leaves millions grasping desperately for survival. War does not strengthen and increase the life span of a state.
Yet, here lies the cruelest irony: though virtually all Ethiopian political elites condemn the regime’s recklessness and warmongering, none offer a coherent or concrete plan for the terrifying moment of its potential collapse. Have we become so numb, so absorbed in our factional paralysis, that we fail to see the urgent need for preparation and coordination beyond merely opposing the regime? Ethiopia will confront an unprecedented leadership vacuum if this regime disintegrates under the crushing weight of incompetence, reckless belligerence, escalating economic crisis, or imminent wars. In this catastrophic scenario, chaos and fragmentation become the terrifying new reality.
This is not mere speculation—this is an impending reality. Without immediate and decisive action from our political elites to build viable transitional frameworks, effective governance alternatives, and collaborative emergency plans, we risk turning Ethiopia’s crisis into a catastrophe. Remaining unprepared now is not mere oversight; it is criminal negligence. The price of your continued passivity, your endless division, and your strategic indecision will be measured not in lost political capital but in the irreversible devastation of millions of Ethiopian lives.
This assessment is not alarmist, but a sober reflection of the harsh reality unfolding before us. Ethiopia’s political elites’ troubling silence and inaction substantiate this grim scenario. To dismiss this warning is to ignore the palpable evidence: every day without meaningful dialogue or preparation brings us dangerously closer to the abyss.
Wake up now, before we collectively walk blindfolded into the abyss. The time for decisive action is now in light of these impending dangers.
IX. In Honor of the Silenced: Breaking the Chains of Fear
Memorial Tribute and Solidarity
In Ethiopia’s political landscape, characterized by pervasive silence, a select group of courageous individuals has chosen to engage in acts of dissent, fully aware of the potential repercussions of their bravery. These individuals serve as powerful symbols of hope amidst a deteriorating environment, their voices rising above the orchestrated silence imposed by political elites. They consciously forfeit their freedom—and sometimes their lives—to uphold the ideals of democracy, truth, and justice, even as others seek refuge in the illusory security of silence and self-preservation.
Currently, courageous voices resonate from prison cells throughout Ethiopia, journalists and political figures rendered prisoners of conscience for their audacity in speaking truth to power. Among those incarcerated, the courageous Meskeram Abera, Taye Dendea, Christian Tadele, and Yohannes Buayalew exemplify the visible representation of a much broader network of bravery. Behind bars nationwide, numerous others—whose names may remain obscure yet whose sacrifices are equally significant—face analogous fates due to their steadfast commitment to justice.
We acknowledge those whose voices have been irretrievably silenced, such as Bate Urgessa, whose life was violently extinguished by the tyranny of the current regime. His murder serves not merely as an isolated incident but as a poignant reminder of the peril associated with articulating truth in contemporary Ethiopia. For every known individual, countless others suffer in anonymity, their narratives untold and their sacrifices unrecognized.
While many endure oppression in silence, these valiant individuals sacrifice their freedom—and sometimes their lives—to pursue justice and liberty. Their courage illuminates the shadows of our current reality, and their sacrifices serve as a guiding light toward a more equitable Ethiopia. They remind us that the cost of truth is substantial, yet the price of silence is even more profound.
We assert to those imprisoned that your confinement cannot stifle your ideas. We vow to those who have been silenced forever: Your sacrifices will not be forgotten. And to all Ethiopians who yearn for freedom, we proclaim: Let us convert our solidarity into action. Only through our collective voice and unwavering commitment can we forge an Ethiopia where dissent is not met with death, dialogue supersedes detention, and everyone can express their truth.
Our Enduring Commitment to the Silenced and Fallen
We owe a deep debt to those silenced through imprisonment or death in their pursuit of justice and democracy. Our primary duty is to alleviate the suffering of the incarcerated and ensure that the flame of their cause burns brighter than ever. For those brave souls behind bars, we must show that their struggle continues, that their voices resonate in our actions. We owe more than remembrance to those who made the ultimate sacrifice; we must honor their legacy by ensuring their sacrifices were not in vain and by advancing the democratic ideals for which they gave their lives. This is not just about memorials; it is about momentum. By sustaining their struggle and transforming their acts of courage into a collective force for change, we enact the most potent form of democratic retribution. In doing so, we honor the silenced and the fallen and reaffirm our commitment to breaking the chains of fear that have long constrained our nation’s potential. Their courage must become our catalyst for the dialogue and unity that Ethiopia desperately needs.
X. A Glimmer in the Darkness: Pioneering Paths to Dialogue
In this critical moment, a promising initiative emerges from civil society. Abronet, a newly founded non-partisan organization led by Ato Lidetu Ayalew, has initiated a bold step by organizing a virtual demonstration scheduled for June 7th, 2025. This innovative approach aims to create a platform specifically focused on advocating for peace against the devastating wars plaguing our nation and ending oppressive governance. The plan is to draw hundreds of thousands of participants, demonstrating the untapped potential for civic engagement in the digital age on a digital platform.
The initiative has extended invitations to the Prime Minister and fifteen speakers representing diverse opposition political organizations and influential voices in Ethiopian politics. While the participation of all invited speakers, particularly the Prime Minister, remains to be seen, the attempt to create such an anti-war platform demonstrates that new paths for peace dialogue are possible.
This groundbreaking initiative warrants our unequivocal support and recognition. It represents a digital revolution in political discourse, poised to shatter the longstanding impasse that has gridlocked our nation. In these challenging times, it serves as a beacon of hope, illustrating that there are still those among us willing to forge new avenues for dialogue and mutual understanding. More significantly, this initiative demonstrates our capacity to surmount the physical, ethnic, and political barriers that have long divided our political elites. Through creativity and unwavering commitment, Abronet exemplifies the innovative, inclusive approach that Ethiopia desperately needs. Leveraging technology to bridge divides sets a new standard for political engagement and can be a stepping stone for national reconciliation. This digital stepping stone could be the catalyst that propels us toward a more unified and democratic future, proving that even in the digital realm, we can lay the foundations for tangible, real-world progress.
Whether or not all invited speakers participate, this initiative shows that building inclusive platforms for dialogue and peace is possible when vision is paired with initiative. Abronet challenges the myth of impossibility that political elites often hide behind by attempting to convene diverse voices on a single platform. Let this moment catalyze political elites: If a newly founded organization can create such an ambitious platform for dialogue, what excuse remains for your continued fragmentation and for remaining trapped in your silos of silence?
The significance of this initiative lies not just in its potential attendance but also in its clear moral stance against war, its advocacy for peace, and its desire to bring together political and armed opposition groups and advocate an end to oppressive governance. The key here is that it involves bringing together political parties, armed opposition groups, and prominent politicians, many of whom are unfamiliar with each other and possess unique political viewpoints.
At a time when the regime appears poised for more wars, this virtual gathering represents a crucial counter-narrative—one that prioritizes dialogue over violence, peace over warfare, democratic governance over autocracy, and national unity over fragmentation. The Ethiopian people’s eagerness to engage signals their yearning for unity and dialogue. For political elites, the question is: Are you ready to fulfill your intellectual and political responsibilities in supporting Ethiopia’s struggle for a better future?
History will evaluate your reactions to this unequivocal call for action. Articulate your stance, overcome disparities, and establish the cohesive, coherent opposition entity and strategy Ethiopia urgently requires.
XI. Call to Action: The Moment of Civic Courage: Act Now or Face Catastrophe
Ethiopia’s political elites stand at a moment of political urgency and existential crisis. Two wars in the Oromia and Amhara regions have already devastated our nation; the regime recklessly prepares to ignite new conflicts utilizing Afar as a base of operations with Eritrea and Tigray, while our economy is spiraling toward collapse.
Condemning the regime’s destructive path alone is not enough. If it’s fall comes—and come it may—the following catastrophic vacuum will swallow us all.
Ethiopia finds itself at a pivotal juncture, confronting a moment of considerable significance that will shape the trajectory of future generations. While the nation boasts a rich historical legacy, it is increasingly fragmented by deepening societal divisions, placing it on the precipice of chaos. This crisis extends beyond mere political discord; it represents a profound breakdown in dialogue and a perilous absence of cohesive leadership. The political elite of Ethiopia, entangled in ethnic allegiances and ideological inflexibility, must urgently transcend these divisions. There is a substantial risk of irreversible fragmentation without immediate and authentic dialogue. This article serves as a critical warning and a compelling call for prompt collective action aimed at restoring civic discourse, bridging divides, and safeguarding the future of Ethiopia.
The following table presents an initial framework of actionable steps intended as a starting point for Ethiopia’s political elites and stakeholders. Recognizing the complexity and sensitivity of our nation’s current predicament, these preliminary suggestions stimulate further refinement, deliberation, and collective ownership. The dates indicated represent a deliberate challenge to Ethiopia’s political elites, urging prompt action and accountability. It is envisioned that these ideas will be expanded upon, adjusted, and enhanced by all relevant participants through inclusive dialogue and mutual consensus, ultimately shaping a robust, practical, and widely accepted roadmap toward Ethiopia’s peaceful and democratic future.
| Action Item | Details |
| Convene Inclusive National Dialogue | – Set a firm date for the first meeting (within 30 days) – Ensure representation from all major stakeholders, including opposition parties, civil society, marginalized groups, youth, and women |
| Establish Unified Opposition Framework | – Create a coordinated structure for opposition forces (within 60 days) – Develop a shared vision for Ethiopia’s future governance |
| Craft Comprehensive National Salvation Plan | – Produce a detailed roadmap addressing: a) Constitutional reforms b) Economic recovery strategies c) Reconciliation and healing processes d) Transitional governance and justice mechanisms |
| Public Engagement Campaign | – Launch a nationwide communication campaign (immediately) – Utilize traditional and social media platforms for broad participation |
| Seek Constructive International Support | – Engage neutral international mediators (within 45 days if required) – Secure commitments for sustained economic and technical support |
| Establish Robust Accountability Measures | – Implement a transparent public tracking system for all commitments (within 30 days of dialogue initiation) – Create clearly defined consequences for non-participation or obstruction |
| Prepare Comprehensive Transition Plans | – Develop concrete transition strategies (within 90 days) – Design interim governance structures clearly outlining authority and responsibilities |
Therefore, your immediate responsibility goes beyond opposition: you must now build viable alternatives, effective transitional plans, and stable governance frameworks. Convene, deliberate, prepare, and collaborate—there is no time for hesitation or ideological purity. What we postpone today may become irreversible devastation tomorrow. The choice is stark, and the moment demands unprecedented civic courage and decisive action from you.
As we face this moment of truth, our path forward becomes clear.
XII. Conclusion: Ethiopia’s Moment of Truth
As we stand at this critical juncture in Ethiopia’s history, the path forward emerges with stark clarity. The comfortable patterns of narrow ethnic interests, political hibernation, and unilateral solutions have brought us to an abyss. Yet within this crisis lies an opportunity—perhaps our last—to forge a new paradigm of national dialogue and collective action to save the nation from this monstrous autocratic regime and its collapse and fragmentation.
The message to our political elites is unequivocal: the time for strategic silence and ethnic entrenchment has passed. Your legitimacy as leaders now rests not on the grievances you articulate but on the solutions you help craft through dialogue. The nation’s survival demands more than rhetoric; it requires the courage to engage, compromise, and build consensus across ethnic and political divides.
History will judge this moment not by the elegance of our words but by the substance of our actions. The choice before us is clear: either we embrace the challenging path of genuine dialogue and collaborative solution-building, or we resign ourselves to witnessing the unraveling of our nation. There is no middle ground, no comfortable space for passive observation or strategic withdrawal.
To those who still cling to their ‘perfect keys’ forged in isolation, to those who retreat behind walls of silence, and to those who confuse narrow ethnic agendas with genuine leadership—hear this final warning: Your individual solutions, no matter how brilliant, will remain impotent without the forge of collective dialogue. Your silence, no matter how strategic, will not shield you from the consequences of national failure.
To those who have chosen to become intellectual enablers of oppression, who have traded their scholarly integrity for personal comfort and gain, know this: History will record not just your words but also their consequences. The same academic rigor you now abuse to justify oppression will ultimately expose your complicity with the autocratic regime. Your sophisticated defenses of the indefensible will stand as evidence in the court of history.
Ethiopia stands at a crossroads where the paths of renewal and ruin diverge. The choice—and the consequences—belong to all of us, but particularly to those who claim the mantle of political leadership. The time for action is not tomorrow; it is now. Ethiopia’s future hangs in the balance, awaiting the courage of its leaders to choose dialogue over division, collaboration over conflict, and national survival over narrow interests.
The question is no longer whether we should act, but whether we will act in time. History awaits our answer.
Author’s Last Remark
To the brilliant minds and passionate hearts of Ethiopia’s political elites:
As I write these words, I am aware of the deep concern, anxiety, and urgent call for action among Ethiopians, especially those in the diaspora. Your hearts and minds remain connected to our homeland, pulsating with anguish and anger. You witness the profound misery and helplessness engulfing our people from afar. The regime’s economic charade and its use of war and deception as tools of governance fuel your outrage.
I share your pain, frustration, and desire for change. Yet, we must channel our emotions into constructive action in this crisis. The remedy for our nation’s afflictions lies in dialogue, not as a platitude but as a tool for transformation.
This dialogue I advocate is not mere conversation, speeches, or a one-time get-together, but a confrontation of your differences, an exploration of your common ground, and a forging of your shared future in a structured way. It transcends physical boundaries, bridging the gap between those at home and abroad, opposing political factions, and diverse ethnic groups.
To my fellow Ethiopians in the diaspora: Your distance from our soil does not diminish your role in this crucial dialogue. Your perspectives, shaped by your Ethiopian roots and global experiences, are invaluable. Amplified by the freedoms you enjoy abroad, your voices can be powerful catalysts for change.
Ethiopia’s future is not written in the stars or determined by the idiocracy of prosperity gospel, but in the actions you choose to take today. Let this be the moment when history records that Ethiopia’s finest minds came together, transcended their differences, and birthed a new era of collaboration and national renewal.
Let it be understood : genuine dialogue is not a detour from your cause—it is the only vehicle capable of advancing your group’s interests and the nation’s collective survival. No single voice or isolated strategy can secure lasting peace or justice in a country as diverse and wounded as ours. Dialogue is the bridge between deeply held grievances and durable solutions. It transforms conflict into cooperation and mistrust into understanding. Without honest and inclusive conversation, there will be no lasting victory if you seek recognition, security, or reform for your community. Dialogue is not surrender—it is strategy. It is the courageous act of those who seek to resist the present and rebuild the future.
Don’t wait for the perfect moment—create it. Build your stage, set your scene. The spotlight of history shines upon you, illuminating this crucial juncture. All of Ethiopia watches with bated breath. Show us that the faith we place in you is not misplaced. Turn this moment of crisis into an opportunity for greatness.
The time for action is now. Let us transform our shared concern into a unified force for positive change. We can transmute our collective anxiety through dialogue into a shared vision for a just, prosperous, and united Ethiopia. This is our call to action, our pathway to redemption, our stepping stone toward a brighter future for all Ethiopians.
To Conclude:
In this critical moment, I call upon Ethiopia’s political elites to embrace the Kantian principle of “goodwill.” Our nation’s salvation requires more than strategic calculations or personal ambitions; it demands a moral imperative driven by duty. As leaders, your primary obligation transcends party lines and ethnic affiliations—it is to act according to the highest moral law, which reason dictates is the preservation and betterment of our nation as a whole. The goodness of your actions, motivated by this sense of duty, will give them true moral worth. Let your legacy be defined not just by the consequences of your actions but by the purity of your intentions and commitment to Ethiopia’s greater good. By choosing to come together, engage in dialogue, and forge a path forward, you fulfill your moral duty and exemplify the goodwill that Kant considered the only thing truly good in itself. This is your moment to rise above personal inclinations and show that your actions are guided by a higher ethical calling—the duty to save our beloved nation.
“And if you’re wondering how many times, I have used the words ‘political leaders and dialogue‘ in this article—let’s just say if we had one birr for each word mentioned, we could probably fund our first national dialogue conference!”
—Sirak Zena
