Abiy Ahmed never dreamed of invading the Eritrean province—until Fano wiped out his OLF army. Now the Pretoria deal has become a deadly infection rotting him from within.
It is true that Ethiopia's claim over the Red Sea and Assab is a legitimate one that almost all Ethiopians - except the TPLF and its backers- deeply share. Ethiopians felt betrayed by the TPLF and its collusion. All this time, no Ethiopian accepted the so-called Eritrean “referendum” nor recognized Eritrea as a “country.”
Eritrea is one of the 14 provinces of Ethiopia, and many of us still keep it that way - not only as wall art, but deeply in our hearts. It has only been a matter of time. We know that Ethiopia will recover what was stolen under duress and during a difficult time when her adversaries stalked her.
Thus, knowing this truly deeply cherished and embraced desire of Ethiopians, Abiy Ahmed wanted to hijack it and use it for his ulterior motive of Orommuma domination. It is ironic that while killing the largest ethnic group, the Amhara (using drones that no government uses to cleanse its own citizens), he is faking by posing as if he is a patriot with a burning desire to restore the sovereignty of Ethiopia.
The truth is that he lost the fight with the Amhara, and his Orommuma regime is crumbling. The only card he has left to play is invading Eritrea—which has been the den or safe haven of the OLF. On the other hand, an anti-Ethiopia and anti-Amhara Shabia is using this opportunity just to keep itself breathing. Other than that, Shabia very well knows it stole Ethiopian territory and the fact that Eritrea is not a country.
For that matter, Ethiopia will never win a war without the Amhara. No Amhara involved means no victory. This is a fact.
Abiy Ahmed lost that opportunity when he targeted immediately after his signed of his own death letter in Pretoria.