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Two Fights, One Spirit: Arbegnoch Then and Fano Now, Mussolini Then and Abiy Now – When History Rhymes in Ethiopia

August 19, 2025


Cartoon AI generated

By – Habte H

https://borkena.com/2025/08/19/two-figh ... -ethiopia/

History may not repeat itself, but in Ethiopia it has an uncanny way of rhyming across generations. In the late 1930s, Fascist Italy led by Benito Mussolini sought to crush Ethiopian sovereignty. What followed was not submission, but the rise of the Arbegnoch (patriots) – a mosaic of peasants, clergy, nobles, youth, and ordinary citizens who waged a relentless five-year resistance (1936–1941) against a technologically superior invader.

Fast forward to the present. Many draw a haunting parallel: a cruel and anti-democratic central regime deploying overwhelming force, and in response, a locally rooted resistance known as Fano. The echo of history raises a sharp, unsettling question:

The Deep Parallels

1) The reason for resistance: It was Mussolini’s fascist regime then, raining terror on civilians with scorched-earth tactics and poison gas, and it is Abiy’s authoritarian fascist regime rule now, waging war on its own people and silencing dissent. Yet in both eras, the fighters – Arbegnoch then, Fano now – emerged not as spoilers, but as authentic freedom seekers defending dignity and survival.

2) Composition of fighters: It was the Arbegnoch and Fanos then, a diverse force of peasants, clergy, nobles, students, and townspeople, and it is Fano now, an equally plural movement of youth and elders, rural and urban, ordinary citizens stepping into extraordinary roles.

3) Fighting strategies: Guerrilla warfare was the lifeline then, with patriots relying on ambushes, hit-and-run tactics, and mastery of Ethiopia’s rugged terrain against Italy’s tanks, planes, and poison gas. It remains the core approach now, as Fano fighters employ asymmetric warfare – mobility, surprise, and deep local knowledge – to challenge a far stronger and better-equipped force on their own terms.

4) Patterns of repression: It was fascist Italy then, answering with mass executions, village burnings, and the infamous Yekatit 12 massacre, and it is a modern regime now, accused of mass detentions, extrajudicial killings, and collective punishment – the faces change, but the logic of repression endures.

5) Spiritual backbone of the struggle: It was the Ethiopian Orthodox Church then, providing sanctuary, moral authority, and courage, and it is the Church now, still anchoring resistance and stitching community together through faith.

6) The power of women and youth: It was heroines like Senedu Gebru then, carrying messages, smuggling arms, and sustaining morale, and it is women and youth now, once again organizing, leading, and proving that resistance is always social, not just military.

7) The silence of the world: It was the League of Nations then, condemning but failing to act, and it is the international community now, watching but responding slowly and timidly – Ethiopia largely stands alone again.

The soundtrack of defiance: It was songs, drumbeats, and church chants then, carrying courage and coded messages, and it is protest songs, bands, and viral mezmur now, lifting spirits, mobilizing support, and turning memory into momentum.

9) The shadow of defectors (“bandas”): It was traitors like Ras Hailu Tekle Haymanot, Haile Selassie Gugsa, and other opportunists then, serving Italy for personal gain and slowing the march to freedom. And it is insiders now – Daniel Kibret, Temesgen Tiruneh, Abebaw Tadesse, and others – siding with power against their people. Such defections delay liberation, but history shows they never derail it.

10) The turning point: Britain and its allies fought Italy in East Africa to defend their colonies, secure strategic routes (like the Suez Canal), weaken the Axis powers, and help restore Ethiopian independence then, isolating Italian garrisons and opening the way for liberation in 1941. Now, it is the possible entry of external forces – perhaps an Eritrean-led coalition – together with regional shifts, rivalries, sanctions, or fractures within the regime, that may tilt the balance and hasten the end.

11) If the rhyme holds, the consequences

Narrative power: The five-year resistance came to embody the spirit of Ethiopian nationalism and resilience, standing as proof that an African nation could withstand a modern empire. In the end, Ethiopia remained the only African country never to be permanently colonized. That triumph echoed far beyond its borders, inspiring generations of African anti-colonial movements that saw in Ethiopia’s defiance a beacon of possibility and hope. Today – a disciplined, durable movement – if it coheres – would likewise enter history as story and symbol.

Political reset: Just as the 1941, victory over Fascist Italy reshaped Ethiopia’s institutions and restored sovereignty, a decisive triumph by Fano would inevitably redraw the country’s political map. Such a shift would not only end an era of centralized repression, but also force the emergence of a new governance order.

The questions are profound: would Ethiopia move toward a more inclusive and decentralized system, balancing the aspirations of diverse regions and peoples? Would institutions finally reflect accountability, transparency, and the rule of law? A Fano victory could bring the chance to reset the state around principles of justice and shared sovereignty, but it could also risk fragmentation if unity of vision is lost. In either case, the impact would be historic – redefining Ethiopia’s political trajectory for generations and shaping its role in the Horn of Africa.

The Hard Question: If it took five years then, how long now?

No one can fix a date on a moving storm, but the clock will be set by key variables. Unity of purpose shortens the struggle, while factionalism prolongs it. Protecting civilians secures legitimacy; abuses erode it. A fractured governing core accelerates change, while cohesion delays it. External diplomacy, resources, and sanctions can tilt the balance quickly. Above all, a credible “day-after” vision – rule of law, inclusion, and justice – determines how soon the end arrives.

A Final Caution – and a Charge

Analogies clarify, but they can also oversimplify. Ethiopia in the 1930s was not Ethiopia today: demography, media, geopolitics, and economics have all changed. Still, the moral core of the comparison is stubborn: when governments or occupiers turn their power inward, people resist; when people resist with purpose, power eventually yields.

Five years then. How long now?

However long it takes, the difference will be made not just by courage in the field, but by discipline, unity, protection of civilians, and a vision generous enough to hold a diverse nation together.

That is how history rhymes – and how it is rewritten.