Worsening Ethnic Violence
– Ethnic-based killings, displacement, and armed conflicts have intensified in regions like Oromia, Amhara, and Benishangul-Gumuz.
Brutal Tigray War
– The civil war (2020–2022) in Tigray caused massive civilian casualties, famine, destruction, and displacement, with reports of war crimes by all sides.
Democratic Backsliding
– Early promises of liberalization have given way to suppression of opposition parties, arrests of critics, and growing authoritarian control.
Suppression of Dissent
– Media outlets have been shut down, journalists jailed, and public criticism increasingly criminalized.
Fusion of Religion and Politics
– Use of prosperity gospel-style rhetoric frames political authority as divinely ordained, undermining secular governance and marginalizing non-Pentecostal groups.
Centralization of Power
– Power has become concentrated in the Prime Minister’s office, weakening federal structures and regional autonomy.
Economic Instability
– Ethiopia faces high inflation, soaring debt, currency devaluation, and war-related economic disruption, worsening poverty and unemployment.
Mass Displacement and Humanitarian Crisis
– Over 4 million people have been displaced due to conflict and instability; millions require food and medical aid.
Contradictions in National Identity Politics
– Promotion of pan-Ethiopian unity while ethnic federalism remains in place has created confusion, resistance, and instability.
Erosion of Legitimacy
– Delayed or contested elections, lack of inclusive dialogue, and growing disenchantment among former allies have damaged Abiy’s credibility both at home and abroad.