Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed delivered a nationwide call for peace and unity on Sunday, using the inauguration of the Debre Markos Airport to urge Ethiopians to prioritize dialogue over division for the sake of shared prosperity.
Framing the inauguration within an overarching vision of state-building, the Prime Minister presented the airport not as an isolated construction project, but as a testament to the equitable distribution of development across Ethiopia. Recalling Debre Markos’s historic legacy as an early hub for telephone, telegraph, and education services, he emphasized the government’s dedication to restoring the area's developmental stature to its former glory.
By expanding infrastructure to all regions rather than confining it to a few central hubs, he noted, the government is actively demonstrating its commitment to accessible development. This approach aims to boost citizens' freedom of movement and deeply integrate regional communities into the broader national economy.
In a poignant call for cooperation, the Prime Minister invoked Debre Markos as a powerful symbol of national cohesion. He affectionately dubbed the city a historic "bridge of the heart," highlighting its enduring role as an emblem of Ethiopian identity that has long connected Wollo, Wollega, and other regions through trade and culture.
Addressing the current state of the nation, the Prime Minister warned that prevailing animosities and narratives focused solely on differences are severely testing the tight familial bonds of Ethiopian society. He stressed that setting aside differences to resolve problems through dialogue, tolerance, and mutual growth—rather than following destructive paths that preach division—is the defining challenge of our time. He cautioned that just as conflict and misunderstanding darken the nation's shared destiny, peace and cooperation remain the only viable routes to building a prosperous country capable of sustaining all its citizens.
Stressing that progress is unthinkable in an environment devoid of peace, PM Abiy called upon the residents of Debre Markos and its surroundings to serve as historic role models of tolerance, mutual understanding, and coexistence for the rest of Ethiopia. He further illustrated the gradual nature of progress using the analogy of "an egg and a chick," reminding the public that true development does not happen overnight. Rather, it is the hard-won fruit of time, effort, cooperation, and trust.
The Prime Minister concluded by emphasizing that public patience and active support are essential to bring ongoing development initiatives to fruition. With the promise that the rewards of these labors will benefit every citizen equally, he declared that the Debre Markos Airport must stand as more than just infrastructure. It should serve as a beacon of shared hope, inspiring all Ethiopians to come together, listen to one another, and build a better nation for the next generation.
