21st Century’s deadliest war took the lives of, at an absolute least 500,000 Ethiopians including Tigre and Amhara civilians and it holds Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the TPLF accountable. Getachew Reda a former spokesperson and member of TPLF’s executive committee recently ended his days as ‘interim president’ after 2 years trying to guide Tigray’s post war situation. One time enemies now potentially members of the same party(rumors of Getachew Reda joining Prosperity Party) have come a long way to have a fairly close understanding of how the country should be run and that has taken north of well over half a million Ethiopian lives. The Tigray War, which began in November 2020, was a tragedy that could have been avoided if not for the failures of leadership on both sides. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the TPLF leadership bear responsibility for the devastating loss of life, suffering, and destruction that unfolded. Over 500,000 people died, including innocent civilians and soldiers, as a result of their decisions.
Abiy Ahmed’s choice to involve Eritrean forces in the conflict was a betrayal of his own people. Eritrean troops, who were invited to fight alongside Ethiopian forces, committed horrific atrocities against Ethiopian civilians. The Axum massacre, carried out by Eritrean soldiers, is one of the darkest moments of the war. Hundreds of civilians were brutally killed in the historic city of Axum, a place that should have been a symbol of unity and pride for Ethiopia. Instead, it became a site of unimaginable violence, with Eritrean forces turning their weapons on Ethiopian citizens. Abiy’s decision to allow a foreign army to operate on Ethiopian soil not only undermined the nation’s sovereignty but also exposed his people to additional suffering.
The TPLF, on the other hand, must also be held accountable. Their actions, including alleged attacks on Ethiopian Defense Forces bases, contributed to the escalation of the conflict. Both sides prioritized their political agendas over the lives of ordinary Ethiopians, leading to a war that devastated the Amhara, Tigrayan, and ENDF communities alike.
The Mai Kadra massacre, which occurred in November 2020, saw hundreds of civilians killed in ethnically motivated violence. Families were torn apart, and communities were left in ruins. The suffering of the Amhara people, the starvation and violence faced by Tigrayans, and the loss of young ENDF soldiers all paint a picture of a war that was not just a tragedy but a failure of leadership.
Abiy Ahmed and the TPLF must be held accountable for their roles in causing and perpetuating this conflict. The massacres in Axum and Mai Kadra, along with countless other atrocities, demand justice. Ethiopia cannot move forward without addressing the failures that led to this war and ensuring that those responsible are held to account. Only through accountability, justice, and reconciliation can Ethiopia begin to heal and rebuild from the devastation of the Tigray War.
The horrors of the Tigray War reveal the profound consequences of leadership failures. The people of Ethiopia—Amhara civilians, Tigrayan civilians, and soldiers in the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF)—were the ones who paid the ultimate price for the incompetence and arrogance of their leaders. Abiy Ahmed’s decision to involve Eritrean forces in the war allowed foreign soldiers to commit atrocities, including the brutal Axum massacre, against Ethiopian civilians. By inviting Eritrean troops, Abiy not only betrayed his own people but also deepened the suffering inflicted by the war. Meanwhile, the TPLF, through its provocations and unwillingness to compromise, fueled the violence that tore apart communities and claimed innocent lives.
Both sides prioritized power and politics over humanity, leaving behind a legacy of grief and devastation. The Mai Kadra massacre and the suffering of Tigrayan civilians facing famine-like conditions stand as stark reminders of how the conflict spared no one. The leaders’ actions—or inactions—created a crisis that Ethiopia will grapple with for generations. Accountability is not just a moral obligation; it is essential for justice and healing. Without holding Abiy Ahmed, the TPLF, and all parties responsible for their decisions, Ethiopia risks repeating the failures that led to this tragedy. Only through reckoning and reconciliation can the nation move toward a future free from the shadows of this war.
