"Killing the elderly and looting property can never be the goal of a struggle" – Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD)

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has urged the people of the Amhara region to take a calm, sober look at the reality currently unfolding in their region.

In an interview with AMECO, the Prime Minister highlighted a tragic situation that has taken root. He explained that under the guise of a "struggle," citizens are being murdered, property is being looted, and families are left struggling even to send their children to school.

He stressed the absolute need to pause and compare the initial reasons given by armed groups who took to the bush, in both the Amhara and Oromia regions, with the harsh reality happening on the ground today.

The Prime Minister recalled the original justifications for taking up arms: claims that people were being killed and displaced based on their identity, alongside demands for resolving administrative boundary disputes. However, he pointed out that the actual outcomes over the past few years stand in stark contrast to those initial promises.

Instead, a dire environment has been created. Today, people step out of their homes in fear with no guarantee of returning safely. Communities are facing the looting of their wealth, the killing of the elderly and prominent figures, and the alarming abduction of teachers.

Describing the Amhara people as inherently wise and capable of getting to the root of complex issues, Prime Minister Abiy expressed confidence in their ability to see the truth. He noted that by simply weighing the causes against the current effects, the underlying reality of the situation becomes impossible to miss.

He concluded with a strong call to action, urging the public to fully recognize what is truly being done in the name of this struggle and to step up to save their region from further destruction.