When Abiy Ahmed became Ethiopia’s prime minister in 2018, he offered a clean slate for Africa’s oldest uncolonized nation, which had been suffocated by decades of strict state control.
His predecessor, Hailemariam Desalegn, had overseen strong economic growth during his nearly six-year rule but continued a historical pattern of using violent crackdowns to crush dissent. This repression sparked years of protests and widened the divide between his government and the public, ultimately leading to his resignation.
Just 90 days into his premiership, Abiy, at the time only 41, stunned the world by negotiating a truce that ended a bitter 20-year civil war with neighboring Eritrea.
This rapid breakthrough, combined with early reforms such as releasing political prisoners and allowing a freer press, earned him the Nobel Peace Prize. It positioned him as a regional peacemaker and a domestic reformer, leading many to believe he would guide Ethiopia toward a free and democratic era.
However, that euphoria soon faded. Today, Ethiopia — Africa’s second most populous nation with over 135 million people — stands deeply divided, facing violent ethnic conflicts, restrictions on free speech and crackdowns on dissent.
As the country heads toward a national election, the leader once celebrated as a healer is now viewed by critics as the main driver of these schisms.
But that is likely to matter little in the vote, with the ruling Prosperity Party expected to dominate amid a fragmented opposition and ongoing violence.
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