Addis Ababa, March 8, 2026 (FMC) — Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has called for a decisive break from what he described as a persistent “cycle of animosity,” particularly in Northern Ethiopia, underscoring that enduring peace can only be secured through dialogue, mutual understanding, and compromise.
The Prime Minister, in an interview with local news agency ENA in Tigrigna language, reflected at length on the immediate triggers and deeper structural causes of the conflict in Northern Ethiopia, which formally concluded following negotiations that culminated in the signing of the Pretoria Peace Agreement in 2022.
Addressing the origins of the conflict, Prime Minister Abiy noted that while its immediate triggers were numerous and interconnected, the underlying causes could be broadly categorized into three key dimensions.
“The triggers for that conflict can be numerous and interconnected. However, the root causes can be categorized into three parts. First, on the side of the then-ruling party [TPLF], there was a refusal to accept the reformist forces and an arrogance defined by a ‘me-only’ sentiment,” he stated.
The Prime Minister was critical of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), characterizing it as an organization confined by what he termed an outdated ideological framework that no longer aligns with contemporary political realities. According to him, such rigidity precipitated decisions that endangered both the broader public and the organization itself.
“It takes blind actions that endanger not only the people but its very own existence. It is well known that it has frequently taken steps that put the public at risk,” he said, arguing that such conduct does not reflect the character of a healthy political organization operating in a rapidly evolving global landscape.
Emphasizing the importance of adaptability in governance, the Prime Minister underscored the value of pragmatism, stressing that ideas must ultimately be measured by their practical benefit to citizens.
“On a global level, this is called pragmatism. An idea should be measured not just as an idea itself, but by its utility. You can have any idea, but the metric is: what is its benefit? How does it serve our people?” he remarked.
Prime Minister Abiy further maintained that the former ruling party remained anchored in concepts formed decades ago and was unwilling to engage in meaningful compromise. He asserted that the TPLF perceived the reformist forces under his leadership as its principal adversary and sought to neutralize them at an early stage. However, he said, those reformist forces demonstrated resilience.
“It thought it could easily achieve its desires, but that was not possible. Consequently, instead of working with the reformists, it chose war, conflict, and destruction. Because of this, we entered a conflict we did not want and paid an unnecessary price,” he stated.
The Prime Minister acknowledged that the people of Tigray bore a particularly heavy burden during the conflict. He added that rather than collaborating to transform both leadership structures and communities, extremist elements continued to cultivate hostility toward Tigray’s youth, security forces, diaspora, and the wider population.
“I can speak with certainty that had the youth held power, we would not have entered into all this trouble. This is because we could have understood each other in a modern language. We know the century we are in, while they want to work with ideas from 50 years ago. This created the problem between us,” he remarked.
Broadening his perspective beyond the Northern conflict, the Prime Minister indicated that several of Ethiopia’s recurring tensions are rooted in what he described as an “unhealthy political structure.” He argued that such systemic challenges cannot be resolved solely through electoral processes, judicial mechanisms, or military interventions.
“I do not believe these issues can find a solution through elections, the courts, or military means alone. They will not find a solution that way. While the war in the North had its own unique nature, it should not be taken as separate from this national structural problem. It is believed that it, too, can be solved along with the country’s general problems,” he said.
Reiterating his central message, Prime Minister Abiy emphasized the imperative of breaking the “cycle of animosity” once and for all, reaffirming his government’s commitment to peaceful engagement as the only viable path forward.
“On our part, we believe the solution must come only through dialogue. We do not want war. We believe that discussing our problems and compromising is a good path. We also believe that a National Dialogue can be a decisive key to our national problems. Consequently, we established a National Commission for Dialogue, and most of its work is nearly complete,” he said.
However, the Prime Minister expressed concern that in Tigray, extremist groups are obstructing dialogue efforts by restricting citizens from openly articulating their concerns and participating in solution-oriented discussions.
“For my part, I do not believe this is a good stance,” he stated, reiterating his call for inclusive dialogue as the foundation for sustainable peace and national unity.