WASHINGTON – The most alarming and deeply disturbing issue still facing Ethiopia today is the continued persecution of Ethiopian Orthodox Christian Amharas, which many observers and community members describe as an ongoing ethnic cleansing and human rights crisis.
On June 19, 2018 (Ethiopian Calendar), at approximately 10:00 a.m., a horrific and brutal attack occurred in the Jawi Wache Kebele of Shirka Woreda, East Arsi Zone, Oromia Region. According to eyewitnesses and reports from local residents, heavily armed extremist groups carried out a coordinated assault against innocent civilians.
The consequences of this attack were devastating:
- Twenty-one (21) Orthodox Christian civilians, primarily Amharas, were brutally killed.
- Seven (7) individuals suffered severe physical injuries, many of whom remain in critical condition.
- Several people remain missing, and there are growing fears that the actual death toll could be higher as more information becomes available.
Eyewitness accounts and local community sources indicate that the perpetrators deliberately targeted Orthodox Christians and ethnic Amharas. Survivors report that the attackers openly declared their intention to eliminate Amharas and Orthodox Christians from the Arsi region, regardless of their language, ethnicity, or religious background. These statements suggest that the violence was not random, but rather part of a broader campaign of intimidation and forced displacement.
Even more troubling are allegations that these extremist groups operate with support, tolerance, or complicity from certain regional and local authorities. Reports also suggest that some of these armed elements maintain links through the Bale area to broader extremist networks operating in the region, including groups connected to Islamic State and Al-Shabaab in neighboring Somalia. These claims raise serious security concerns and highlight the potential international dimension of the violence.
For this reason, describing the perpetrators merely as “unknown forces” or “unidentified armed groups” is misleading and unacceptable to the victims and their families. Such language minimizes the severity of the crimes and undermines efforts to ensure accountability and justice.
The systematic targeting of civilians based on ethnicity and religious identity represents a grave violation of fundamental human rights and international law. The international community, human rights organizations, and democratic governments must take these reports seriously and call for independent investigations, protection for vulnerable communities, and accountability for those responsible.
In our recent letter addressed to President Donald Trump and the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee, we specifically documented and reported these killings and the broader pattern of violence against Orthodox Christian Amharas. The purpose of raising these concerns is to urge greater international awareness and to encourage decisive action to stop the continued persecution of innocent civilians in Ethiopia.
The suffering of these communities cannot be ignored. Ensuring justice, protecting vulnerable populations, and restoring peace and security must become an urgent priority for both Ethiopian authorities and the international community.
The recent article from NewsAddis reporting that the Russian military may deploy Ethiopian ex-servicemen and other foreign mercenaries to the front lines of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war is deeply troubling. The situation described in the article is extremely concerning and raises serious questions about the judgment, responsibility, and direction of those involved.
Reports suggesting that individuals from Ethiopia could be recruited or sent to participate in the war alongside Russian forces are particularly alarming. Such developments not only place Ethiopian citizens in grave danger but also risk entangling Ethiopia in a complex international conflict that has already caused immense human suffering. These claims warrant careful scrutiny and should prompt serious discussion about the ethical, legal, and political implications of involving Ethiopian nationals in a foreign war.
For a country like Ethiopia, which already faces significant internal political, economic, and humanitarian challenges, involvement in such an arrangement would be both risky and damaging. Encouraging or allowing Ethiopians to participate as mercenaries in a foreign conflict—especially in a war where Russia invaded Ukraine—
The government of Ethiopia, led by Abiy Ahmed, should carefully consider the long-term consequences of any action that could be interpreted as supporting or enabling such activities. Ethiopia has historically maintained a respected role in international diplomacy, peacekeeping, and regional stability. Actions that appear to contradict those traditions risk damaging the country’s reputation and relationships with partners around the world.
At a time when the Ethiopian people need peace, economic recovery, and national reconciliation, involvement in external conflicts would only divert attention and resources away from these urgent priorities. The government should refrain from any activities that could place Ethiopian citizens in harm’s way or entangle the nation in a war that is not its own.
Ultimately, decisions made today could have lasting consequences. Policies that expose Ethiopians to foreign battlefields or associate the country with violations of international norms may haunt the Ethiopian people for many years to come. Responsible leadership requires protecting the nation’s interests, safeguarding its citizens, and ensuring that Ethiopia remains committed to peace and constructive engagement with the international community.
Another alarming issue that Ethiopians everywhere must be made aware of is the so-called draft of the Finfinnee Reclamation Framework. Many Ethiopian Americans are expressing deep concern about the implications of this proposal and what it could mean for the future of Finfinnee and the people who live there.
A friend recently shared with me the troubling information below regarding this draft framework. The content raises serious questions about its intent, its potential consequences, and the broader political and social impact it may have. Policies of this nature must be examined carefully and openly, because they affect not only the residents of Finfinnee but also the unity, stability, and future of Ethiopia as a whole.
Members of the Ethiopian American community are particularly concerned that discussions and decisions about such critical matters appear to be taking place without sufficient transparency, broad consultation, or meaningful public participation. When proposals that could significantly reshape historical, social, and administrative realities are introduced without inclusive dialogue, they inevitably generate anxiety, mistrust, and division among communities.
For this reason, it is important that Ethiopians—both at home and in the diaspora—remain informed and engaged. Issues that touch on identity, history, land, and governance require thoughtful national dialogue, respect for all communities, and a commitment to peaceful and constructive solutions.
Below is the information that was shared with me, followed by my response to these disturbing developments.
Exciting News: A new draft of the “Finfinnee Reclamation Framework,” which is said to have the potential to bring all Oromo stakeholders toward a consensus, will be presented for discussion this coming April.
******************************
The “Finfinnee Reclamation Framework”: A New Discussion Draft
******************************
The “Finfinnee Reclamation Framework” has been prepared as a strategic roadmap to facilitate urgent discussions among Oromo political parties, Gadaa leaders, intellectuals, activists, and members of the diaspora. It aims at addressing the century-long displacement of indigenous Tulama Oromo clans, such as the Gullallee, Ekka, Gelan, and others.
This restorative justice framework utilizes ten (10) national and international strategic models (listed below) as a foundation to compensate for the historical injustices that forced the ancestral Oromo owners from Finfinnee.
The draft is described as a document that enables the transition of Finfinnee from a federal territory back to its rightful status as the sovereign heart of Oromia.
It seeks to permanently restore ancestral land rights, political authority, and economic power to the Oromo people. Furthermore, it is a historic document that calls for the implementation and further amendment of the “Special Interest of Oromia” as stipulated in Article 49(5) of the current Ethiopian Constitution.
The framework is based on ten (10) strategic models, including one regional (1), two national (2), and seven international (7). They are:
1. The Sidama Model – Hawassa, Sidama National Regional State (Ethiopia)
2. The Harari Model – Harar, Harari Regional State (Ethiopia)
3. The Oromia Integrated Model – Adama and Bishoftu, Oromia (Ethiopia)
4. The Sovereign Host Model – Dubai and Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates)
5. The Bumiputera Policy – Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
6. The Paramountcy Principle – Viti Levu and Vanua Levu (Fiji)
7. The Plurinational State Model – La Paz (Bolivia)
8. The Reparative Equity Model (BEE) – Johannesburg and Cape Town (South Africa)
9. The Law of Return Model – Jerusalem and Tel Aviv (Israel)
10. The “America First” Model – Championed by the Trump administration: When applied to Finfinnee, this model serves as a basis for an “Oromo First” policy that mandates urban job opportunities, government contracts, and investments be prioritized for the indigenous Oromo people.
Overall, the document includes short-term, mid-term, and long-term plans, strategies, and programs. Starting in April 2026, it will be discussed among Oromo stakeholders located both within the country and abroad.
Note: I will be posting excerpts of the key points from the document daily
My response to the above
Thank you for sharing this deeply troubling story. The situation you describe is very concerning, and it raises serious questions about the judgment and direction of those involved. One cannot help but wonder whether there are responsible voices advising them, as the current course appears both dangerous and unsustainable. If it continues, it risks escalating into a broader crisis that could engulf the entire country.
It is particularly distressing to see actions that marginalize large segments of the population, especially the Amhara community and other groups. Such approaches not only deepen divisions but also undermine the sense of unity and shared purpose that is essential for a stable and prosperous nation. Efforts to concentrate control over resources in a way that excludes others will inevitably create tension and resistance among citizens.
No reasonable or fair-minded citizen can be expected to accept such conditions indefinitely. While the current situation may persist for a time, history has shown that people eventually come together to stand against injustice and imbalance. I remain hopeful that, in the long run, the people of Ethiopia will organize themselves constructively and work toward a more inclusive, just, and sustainable future.
Thank you again for bringing this to attention.
Warm regards,
Mesfin
Mesfin Mekonen
Mesfin Mekonen is the author of Washington Update, a bulletin about Ethiopia’s struggle for freedom and prosperity, and founder of MM Management.
- Mesfin Mekonen#molongui-disabled-link
- Mesfin Mekonen#molongui-disabled-link
- Mesfin Mekonen#molongui-disabled-link
- Mesfin Mekonen#molongui-disabled-link
