Somali researcher and analyst Abdirashid Hashi criticized Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for his erratic and short-term policies, claiming they have deepened Ethiopia’s internal strife. According to Hashi, Abiy’s leadership has alienated key groups that once supported him, including the Oromo, Amhara, and Eritrean factions, as well as regional allies like Somalia and Djibouti.
Hashi points out that Ethiopia is now embroiled in a multi-front civil war. The FANO, an Amhara rebel group, reportedly controls large areas, while the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), from Abiy’s own ethnic group, has also turned against him. Tigray, still bitter after the devastating 2021-22 war, remains divided and resentful, with over a million lives lost during the conflict.
As Ethiopia faces increasing instability and approaches what Hashi describes as a “failed state” status, Abiy is allegedly attempting to divert attention by focusing on external issues. Hashi argues that Abiy first sought to exploit Somalia’s coastline for access to the sea, and as that effort faltered, the prime minister is now likely to direct his attention toward Egypt.
The analyst warns that such tactics will not resolve Ethiopia’s internal challenges, including economic decline and ongoing ethnic violence. He argues that Ethiopia requires a unifying leader, akin to Nelson Mandela, rather than what he describes as Abiy’s erratic and self-centered leadership.
