In a joint statement released Tuesday, numerous international Amhara Associations decried the recent actions and rhetoric of a small cadre of former NaMA officials who now, according to the statement, have abandoned the movement’s founding ideals in favor of political expediency. The signatories argue that these individuals have aligned themselves with the current government—a faction that they accuse of facilitating policies detrimental to Amhara communities—and have misappropriated NaMA’s legacy to serve the interests of the Oromo Prosperity Party regime.
The statement asserts that the once-vibrant NaMA, a movement that played a crucial role in mobilizing and awakening the Amhara people, has been irreparably undermined by internal divisions and leadership betrayals. Prominent among these, the joint statement singles out figures such as Belete Molla, who is accused of trading ideological integrity for a lucrative cabinet position under the current regime, and other prominent officials like Gashaw Mersha and Yesuf Ibrahim. These individuals, it is claimed, have turned their backs on the core principles of NaMA and now act as mouthpieces for policies that have contributed to the ongoing oppression and violence against the Amhara community.
The coalition of organizations includes influential bodies such as the International Amhara Movement (IAM), Federation of Amharas in North America (FANA), Canadian Amhara Societies Alliance (CASA), and numerous associations from Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and North America. These groups, representing myriad diaspora communities and grassroots networks, rallied behind the joint statement with unwavering resolve. They argued that many members who remain loyal to NaMA’s original vision have been forced into exile, imprisonment, or even armed resistance due to the regime’s refusal to engage in meaningful and peaceful dialogue with dissenting voices.
Critically, the statement goes on to declare that the faction currently identifying itself as NaMA constitutes nothing more than a “hollow shell”—a puppet organization sustained solely by the manipulation of governmental power. The signatories demand that any political process purporting to represent the Amhara cause must entirely exclude these allegedly compromised figures. As the statement emphatically concludes, “The Amhara people will not recognize, accept, or be bound by any decision or agreement made by this illegitimate faction.”
This development marks a significant moment in the increasingly polarized political landscape, reflecting deep-seated frustrations among segments of the Amhara community. The denunciation is a call to reclaim the authentic voice of the movement—a reminder of the sacrifices made by its original members and a demand for a future free from what they characterize as political betrayal and manipulation.
As this story unfolds, observers note that the implications of the joint statement could resonate both within Ethiopia and among the global diaspora, further intensifying the debate over representation, legitimacy, and the path forward for the Amhara people in an increasingly complex political environment.
