Addis ababa: Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said Ethiopia has developed the capacity and institutional resilience to counter any threat to its national existence, while calling for internal disputes to be resolved through dialogue.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, in a wide-ranging interview with the Amhara Media Corporation (AMC), the Prime Minister stated that Ethiopia has learned from the failures and divisions of its past and is better prepared to withstand efforts aimed at destabilizing the country or derailing its reform agenda. "Today's Ethiopia is not the Ethiopia of yesterday," PM Abiy remarked, emphasizing the country's increased awareness of historical vulnerabilities and its improved ability to respond to challenges.
The Prime Minister criticized armed groups operating in parts of the Amhara and Oromia regions, arguing that their claims of acting in the public interest are contradicted by their actions on the ground. Drawing on Ethiopia's historical experience, PM Abiy noted that internal actors aligning with external forces have historically contributed to significant national setbacks, such as the loss of access to the Red Sea.
He urged Ethiopians to avoid destructive alliances and instead resolve political differences through longstanding traditions of reconciliation, dialogue, and community-based conflict resolution, asserting that internal disagreements should be settled by Ethiopians.
Addressing the 2022 Pretoria Agreement, which ended the war in northern Ethiopia, PM Abiy described it as a crucial turning point that silenced the guns and allowed development to resume. He highlighted that the agreement facilitated expanded infrastructure, investment, and economic activity in the Amhara, Tigray, and Afar regions, as well as across the country.
The Prime Minister rejected claims that the Amhara region neither participated in nor benefited from the Pretoria Agreement, labeling such assertions as false and politically motivated. He affirmed that representatives from the region were involved in deliberations and that the agreement's implementation supported development in the area.
Prime Minister Abiy framed Ethiopia's broader national transformation as a long-term process necessitating public participation, patience, and sustained institutional commitment. He emphasized that change results from the collective sacrifices and efforts of many Ethiopians and acknowledged the government's responsibility to address legitimate public concerns about the reform agenda.
He warned against conspiracy-driven political narratives detached from facts, stating they threaten national cohesion and undermine the country's future. The Prime Minister elaborated that Ethiopia's reform process has elicited varied reactions, with some opposition driven by personal interests or unrealistic expectations.
He encouraged citizens to engage constructively in the reform process and assess developments based on evidence rather than speculation, cautioning against prioritizing short-term political gains over long-term national interests.
Reflecting on Ethiopia's political history, PM Abiy highlighted the country's tradition of coexistence, integration, and nation-building, while acknowledging past attempts to seize power through violence. He cited the June 22, 2019, assassinations of senior officials in the Amhara Region as a dark episode and warned against politicizing historical tragedies or distorting facts.
PM Abiy concluded by emphasizing Ethiopia's future depends on perseverance, national unity, factual understanding, and sustaining reforms through peaceful political engagement and inclusive development. He stressed that the country's transformation requires collective effort rather than conflict or external intervention.