Three of Ethiopia’s major opposition parties have issued a stark warning that the country stands on the brink of collapse, urging immediate collective action to salvage the nation from ongoing turmoil.
The ENAT Party, the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party (EPRP), and the All Ethiopian Unity Party (AEUP) jointly criticized the government led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, whose Prosperity Party recently claimed “economic, diplomatic, and political victories” during its second congress. The opposition leaders dismissed these assertions as detached from Ethiopia’s grim reality, citing deepening violence and widespread insecurity across the nation.
“Our joy would have been immense if Ethiopia had genuinely achieved these successes over the past six years,” the parties said in a joint statement. “Instead, the nation is on the verge of collapse.”
The ongoing conflicts in the Amhara and Oromia regions, combined with fears of renewed hostilities from one faction of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), have fueled a worsening security crisis. The opposition pointed to the pervasive instability, highlighting rampant ransom kidnappings and the daily fear that “getting home safely now feels like winning the lottery.”
Despite government claims of progress, Ethiopia remains plagued by reports of widespread human rights abuses, including arbitrary detentions, sexual violence, and extrajudicial killings in conflict zones. The opposition accused the government of failing to protect citizens from escalating violence and systemic insecurity.
In November 2024, opposition parties and activists attempted to organize an anti-war rally in Addis Ababa, calling for peace and public awareness. The authorities swiftly banned the event, arresting and detaining several organizers.
As conditions deteriorate, the opposition bloc has renewed its appeal for immediate intervention. They called on the ruling party to reassess the country’s crisis and urged Ethiopian citizens to rally behind their efforts to rescue the nation. Additionally, they appealed to the international community to mediate and help put an end to the conflict.
“We are determined to work together to avert disaster and safeguard Ethiopia’s future,” the statement read.
It remains unclear whether the government will heed the opposition’s urgent call for dialogue and action as the nation teeters on the edge of further chaos.
