October 13, 2025
Subject: A Christian Appeal to Refuse Mediation on Behalf of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Regime
Dear Reverend Franklin Graham,
Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I write this letter to you with deep respect for your lifelong ministry and your family’s legacy of faith, compassion, and humanitarian service. Your work through Samaritan’s Purse and your unwavering commitment to bringing relief to those suffering across the world have inspired millions.
However, it has come to public attention that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia has allegedly requested that you, along with two other international leaders, act as intermediaries to reach U.S. President Donald J. Trump on his behalf. I write to you as a humble voice from among those who have witnessed the unspeakable suffering endured by the Ethiopian people under Abiy Ahmed’s rule.
Reverend Graham, I implore you not to become a messenger or mediator for a regime accused of inflicting grave violence upon its own citizens. Multiple independent reports from Human Rights Watch (2025), Amnesty International (2024), and the United Nations Human Rights Council (2024) have documented atrocities committed by the Ethiopian government and its allied forces, including:
- Airstrikes and drone attacks against civilian targets
- Bombardments of churches, schools, and hospitals
- The use of starvation as a weapon of war
- Extrajudicial killings and mass detentions
- The suppression of journalists and humanitarian workers
These actions are not mere political missteps; they are sins against humanity, contradicting every moral teaching of Christ and every principle of human dignity.
“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.”
— Isaiah 1:17 (ESV)
As a man of God, your voice carries a spiritual weight that transcends politics. To stand with truth and justice in this moment is to stand with the countless mothers who have buried their children, the pastors who have seen their churches reduced to rubble, and the millions who cry out to God for deliverance.
By declining to serve as an envoy for Abiy Ahmed’s government, you would reaffirm the moral integrity of Christian witness before the nations. You would show that the church stands not beside power, but beside the powerless.
The world needs to hear a gospel of peace, not partnership with those who destroy their own people. Ethiopia’s healing will not come from secret mediation or political maneuvering—it will come from repentance, justice, and the restoration of human dignity.
May your decision reflect the compassion and courage of Christ, who said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
— Matthew 5:9 (ESV)
With reverence and hope,
Caleb Ta. (Dr.)
Independent Researcher in African Political Affairs; Human Rights Advocate