Meaza Mohammed, the founder of Roha TV—one of the most influential media outlets advocating for Amhara rights—although having been accused by the federal government of terrorism charges, a punitive move highlighting the worrisome trend where the current regime targets Amhara activists, political candidates, journalists, and spokespeople alike Meaza Mohammed remains a leading advocate for Amhara rights and alleged association of the armed movement. In the latest episode of Meaza’s Guest, she welcomed Engineer Yilkal Getnet to dissect the intricacies of the Amhara Fano movement and broader current affairs in Ethiopian politics, setting the stage for a compelling discussion on justice, resilience, and the fight for rights.
The discussion delved into the formation of the Amhara Fano National Force (AFNF), a “historic milestone” that unifies loose factions from Wollo, Shewa, Gojjam, and Gondar into a consolidated front. However the host Meaza Mohammed raised the fact that, this achievement is accompanied by questions according to critics and even advocates regarding its leadership structure. Instead of appointing a singular leader and deputy, the AFNF established a central command composed of 13 members—including figures such as Zemene Kassie, Habte Wolde, Mihret (Mire) Wedajo, and Desalegn Sisyasebshewa—which has raised concerns among critics about potential divisiveness. Addressing these criticisms, Engineer Yilkal Getnet remarked, “as a politician we have to know where these questions are coming from mostly, if it’s from the gov’t and gov’t cadres I’d like to say go on with the cries [bitching],” a pointed comment that underscores the tension between the movement’s aspirations and the dismissive narratives emanating from government sources.
Meaza also raised Engineer Yilkal Getnet’s consistent views on the structure of armed struggle, highlighting his long-standing support for a loose, decentralized movement. When pressed about the latest development of unifying previously fragmented factions from Wollo, Shewa, Gojjam, and Gondar into a single force, Yilkal reaffirmed his stance. He pointed to the recent conflict between the federal government and the state of Tigray—recalling that the actual battle effectively ended in three weeks when the ENDF seized Mekelle, only to later be driven back by the superior guerrilla warfare tactics of the Tigrayan fighters. He further justified his position by drawing a parallel with the Vietnam War, arguing that history shows centralized, rigid structures can falter against more adaptable, decentralized forms of resistance.
In his latest parliamentary appearance, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed touted his government as a peacekeeping asset for the fragile Horn of Africa—claiming that, unlike previous regimes such as the brutal Derg and the TPLF, his administration has steered clear of warring with neighboring countries, even though it bears responsibility for nearly the same number of recorded deaths as the Derg did over 17 years, but managed it in just 7 years. Reflecting on this jab, Meaza recalled thinking of asking Engineer Yilkal Getnet, “[He said] ‘I’M VERY PEACEFUL, [DESPITE] WHEN ALL THE OTHER REGIMES HAVE FOUGHT AGAINST NEGIBOURING COUNTRIES, [I] ABIY AHMED HAVE NEVER FIRED AGAINST OUR NEIGBOURING COUNTRIES’ [AS IF HE WAS SOME SORT OF] THE REGION’S PEACE AMBASSODOR…………I ASSUME YOU’VE HEARD THAT SPEECH, HOW DO YOU SEE IT?,”. In response, Yilkal dismissed the prime minister’s remarks, attributing them merely to his “prophetic leader” persona—a self-styled image in which he sees himself as the destined and supreme leader of the nation.
The episode concluded with a deep dive into the escalating civil service professionals’ strike—a movement that has rapidly evolved over the past few weeks into a full-scale protest. With over 80 doctors having been jailed since the inception of the strike, the conversation shed light on the mounting frustration within the healthcare community, whose voices are being sidelined by current administrative priorities. Engineer Yilkal Getnet critiqued the government’s lavish dismantling of urgent healthcare dilemmas through reckless spending on redundant parks and palaces, resources that could otherwise address the genuine needs of these frontline professionals. They argued that this glaring misallocation of funds not only diminishes public trust but also starkly contrasts with the pressing demands for improved wages, working conditions, and vital support for a beleaguered health sector. This candid assessment served as a stark reminder of the deep systemic issues within Ethiopian governance, ultimately framing the strike as both a symptom and a signal of broader mismanagement and neglect in public service priorities.
