Addis Ababa, April 11, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has extended Easter greetings to Ethiopian Christians, framing the Resurrection of Jesus Christ as a central expression of Christian faith and a reflection of Ethiopia’s ongoing national transformation.
In a message issued on the eve of Ethiopian Easter, the Prime Minister described the occasion as the ultimate victory of life over death, emphasizing that the Resurrection affirms that the grave is not the final destination of humanity but a passage into renewed life.
He further noted that Ethiopian Easter reflects the Christian belief in life beyond death and redemption through Christ.
The PM stated that Ethiopia is currently going through a period of significant trial marked by challenges and competing narratives that risk obscuring truth and weakening collective resolve.
He asserted that misinformation, fear, and distraction could divert the country from its intended path, while stressing that, as reflected in the Passion narrative, hardship ultimately gives way to renewal.
Drawing on biblical accounts of the crucifixion and resurrection, the Premier outlined different human responses during such moments of renewal.
The Prime Minister described the steadfast as those convinced that suffering would give way to resurrection and who remain committed to truth and sacrifice even under pressure.
He characterized the hopeful as those who expect positive outcomes based on teachings and witnessed miracles, but who are less prepared to confront falsehood or bear the cost of sacrifice, though they refrain from wrongdoing.
PM Abiy Ahmed described the doubters as inconsistent, shifting between belief and withdrawal depending on circumstances, while the despairing were portrayed as overwhelmed by immediate events and unable to distinguish truth from falsehood.
Abiy also addressed the gossipers, noting that they spread mixed and distorted accounts by combining partial information with speculation, thereby generating confusion and diverting others from truth. He referenced scriptural accounts suggesting that such narratives persisted even after the Resurrection.
The Premier noted that these responses were ultimately exposed through the Resurrection narrative, with steadfast conviction vindicated while doubt, despair, and misinformation failed to endure.
He added that attempts to suppress the truth—including sealing the tomb, deploying guards, and circulating false accounts—were ultimately unsuccessful.
Applying this framework to Ethiopia, the Prime Minister stated that the country is undergoing its own renewal phase, which he described as a national “resurrection” despite the challenges.
PM Abiy noted that those confident in the nation’s trajectory will endure challenges and ultimately witness results, while those influenced by doubt or misinformation risk missing the scale of change underway.
He stressed that Ethiopia’s renewal path is irreversible, describing it as having “opened the tomb and broken the seal,” and added that the country is now moving beyond what he termed the “resurrection phase” toward what he called an “ascension stage.”
The PM further noted that some segments of society may not yet recognize this transition due to doubt or misleading narratives, but maintained that national renewal is already underway.
He called on citizens to move beyond indecision, urging the hopeful to strengthen conviction, the doubtful to believe, and the wider public to reject misinformation and division.
The Premier also linked Ethiopia’s democratic trajectory to the principle of perseverance, noting that progress toward democracy and prosperity cannot be achieved without enduring challenges.
Referring to the upcoming national electoral process scheduled for June 1, 2026, he said democratic development, like the Resurrection, requires endurance, patience, and resilience.
He stressed that no country achieves democracy without difficulty, adding that overcoming such trials is essential for long-term progress. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed concluded that while challenges are unavoidable, perseverance remains a national choice, highlighting resilience as a pathway out of poverty and patience as a foundation for democratic consolidation, and calling for unified national effort toward Ethiopia’s continued renewal.