Ethiopians express deep fatigue from repeated conflicts. Tensions between the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and the federal government risk escalating into new violence. Such a war would represent a moral and economic catastrophe for the nation.
Ethiopians are profoundly exhausted by cycles of conflict. Daily headlines detail deaths, razed villages, and orphaned children, while displaced farmers and refugees lose their livelihoods. "We are painfully tired of war, but angry at political and military leaders whose choices fuel renewed threats between the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and the federal government," the commentary states.
Recent years have claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and displaced millions, with women and children facing violence, trauma, and malnutrition. Economically, northern conflicts have demolished hospitals, schools, roads, dams, and industries, undoing years of progress and exacerbating inflation, debt, and unemployment. Another war would spell disaster for a fragile nation.
Current tensions between the TPLF and federal government intensify through inflammatory rhetoric, military posturing, and troop mobilizations. History demonstrates that war in Ethiopia deepens divisions rather than resolving them. Political disputes must be addressed via constitutional and democratic channels, not force.
Ethiopia, a federation of diverse ethnic groups, languages, religions, and histories, cannot endure domination or secession by violence. De-escalation demands halting aggressive language and preparations for conflict. The federal government, as the primary security authority, should lead by reducing troop concentrations and committing publicly to peace. The TPLF must exercise restraint, recognizing that armed confrontation hinders recovery.
An inclusive national dialogue is essential, tackling root issues like power-sharing, identity, justice, land, the constitution, and federalism. Involving all political actors, civil society, and mediators ensures broad legitimacy. Ethiopians declare: "We have nothing to gain from war and everything to lose." Peace, they argue, requires courage and reconciliation, not confrontation.
