Abiy Ahmed Must Learn from Hailemariam — And Step Down
Posted: 18 Apr 2026, 16:02
Political Power, Like Fire, Must Be Carefully Contained—or It Will Burn Everything Down
By Ephrem B Hidug
In modern Ethiopian politics, few figures present a starker contrast than the former Prime Minister of Ethiopia Hailemariam Dessalegn and the incumbent Abiy Ahmed. One stepped down with humility, honoring the social contract and prioritizing national unity over personal ambition. The other has centralized power, cloaking his rule in divine rhetoric, behaving more like a monarch than a public servant.
Their divergent leadership styles raise a fundamental question: What legitimizes political authority—and can unchecked power ever be moral?
Hailemariam Dessalegn: Humble Leadership and Respect for the Rule of Law
The former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Hailemariam Dessalegn was no populist showman. Quiet, deliberate, and respectful of constitutional norms, he embodied the Lockean principle that legitimate power derives not from divine right but from the consent of the governed.
When widespread protests erupted in 2018 over political exclusion and governance failures, Hailemariam made a rare and courageous move in African politics: he resigned voluntarily. “If my resignation brings peace and stability to the country, I will step down,” he declared. In doing so, he demonstrated both moral responsibility and political maturity.
His reforms—particularly releasing political prisoners and opening democratic space—were credited not to himself but to his party and the people. During his tenure, he never portray himself as a king but and servant of the people. In an interview with Conflict Zone, Hailemariam consistently used “my party, we the people” instead of “I the leader,” a subtle but telling sign of his collaborative ethos. Though a strong believer in Protestant Christianity, he governed without mysticism, guided instead by principle and institutional integrity. He set aside his personal religious beliefs to serve as a secular leader of the state.
Having worked closely with him, I witnessed this firsthand. When he became Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister in 2010, he addressed inefficiencies in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs—not by centralizing power, but by empowering an independent committee to audit the system. The committee uncovered opaque hiring practices, politicized decision-making, and arbitrary disciplinary measures. Rather than shielding the institution, he embraced reform, identifying core issues and initiating a critical review of the ministry’s working methods..
During a legal drafting session, we proposed a clause granting him broad override powers. He stopped us:
“What does ‘when necessary’ mean? What does ‘any provision’ cover? These terms are vague—and invite abuse. A law should constrain, not expand, power.”
Then he said something I’ll never forget:
“I want you to limit my power. The law must prevail—and I, too, must be subject to its full authority.”
This rare in my 20+ years of my tenure at the ministry and it was an expression of constitutional humility echoed Montesquieu and Madison’s conviction that even well-intentioned leaders must be bound by law to prevent tyranny.
Hailemariam’s leadership was characterized by consultation and rational deliberation. He advanced peace efforts with Eritrea, spearheaded national projects like the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, and played a key role in regional diplomacy—working through IGAD on the South Sudan peace process, addressing instability in Somalia, and representing Ethiopia on the international stage with dignity. Ironically, the peace deal with Eritrea—later claimed by Abiy Ahmed—was rooted in groundwork laid during the tenures of Meles Zenawi and Hailemariam. Isaias Afwerki ultimately accepted the proposal, largely due to personal dynamics between the two leaders.
Continue reading https://martinplaut.com/2025/09/05/abiy ... step-down/
https://martinplaut.com/2025/09/05/abiy ... step-down/
By Ephrem B Hidug
In modern Ethiopian politics, few figures present a starker contrast than the former Prime Minister of Ethiopia Hailemariam Dessalegn and the incumbent Abiy Ahmed. One stepped down with humility, honoring the social contract and prioritizing national unity over personal ambition. The other has centralized power, cloaking his rule in divine rhetoric, behaving more like a monarch than a public servant.
Their divergent leadership styles raise a fundamental question: What legitimizes political authority—and can unchecked power ever be moral?
Hailemariam Dessalegn: Humble Leadership and Respect for the Rule of Law
The former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Hailemariam Dessalegn was no populist showman. Quiet, deliberate, and respectful of constitutional norms, he embodied the Lockean principle that legitimate power derives not from divine right but from the consent of the governed.
When widespread protests erupted in 2018 over political exclusion and governance failures, Hailemariam made a rare and courageous move in African politics: he resigned voluntarily. “If my resignation brings peace and stability to the country, I will step down,” he declared. In doing so, he demonstrated both moral responsibility and political maturity.
His reforms—particularly releasing political prisoners and opening democratic space—were credited not to himself but to his party and the people. During his tenure, he never portray himself as a king but and servant of the people. In an interview with Conflict Zone, Hailemariam consistently used “my party, we the people” instead of “I the leader,” a subtle but telling sign of his collaborative ethos. Though a strong believer in Protestant Christianity, he governed without mysticism, guided instead by principle and institutional integrity. He set aside his personal religious beliefs to serve as a secular leader of the state.
Having worked closely with him, I witnessed this firsthand. When he became Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister in 2010, he addressed inefficiencies in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs—not by centralizing power, but by empowering an independent committee to audit the system. The committee uncovered opaque hiring practices, politicized decision-making, and arbitrary disciplinary measures. Rather than shielding the institution, he embraced reform, identifying core issues and initiating a critical review of the ministry’s working methods..
During a legal drafting session, we proposed a clause granting him broad override powers. He stopped us:
“What does ‘when necessary’ mean? What does ‘any provision’ cover? These terms are vague—and invite abuse. A law should constrain, not expand, power.”
Then he said something I’ll never forget:
“I want you to limit my power. The law must prevail—and I, too, must be subject to its full authority.”
This rare in my 20+ years of my tenure at the ministry and it was an expression of constitutional humility echoed Montesquieu and Madison’s conviction that even well-intentioned leaders must be bound by law to prevent tyranny.
Hailemariam’s leadership was characterized by consultation and rational deliberation. He advanced peace efforts with Eritrea, spearheaded national projects like the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, and played a key role in regional diplomacy—working through IGAD on the South Sudan peace process, addressing instability in Somalia, and representing Ethiopia on the international stage with dignity. Ironically, the peace deal with Eritrea—later claimed by Abiy Ahmed—was rooted in groundwork laid during the tenures of Meles Zenawi and Hailemariam. Isaias Afwerki ultimately accepted the proposal, largely due to personal dynamics between the two leaders.
Continue reading https://martinplaut.com/2025/09/05/abiy ... step-down/
https://martinplaut.com/2025/09/05/abiy ... step-down/