Introduction
Abiy Ahmed has stooped to a new low by attempting to divide the Ethiopian Tewahedo Orthodox Church (EOTC). His tactics were brazen: he enlisted a group of Oromo nationalist rogue priests from within the Church, providing them with financial resources, security, and explicit instructions to take over EOTC churches across the country, particularly in the Oromia region.
Abiy’s pretext was that the EOTC was unwilling to use the Oromo language, a baseless fabrication that would be laughable if it weren’t so dangerous. In reality, his government was attempting to assert its control over the Church, a move that would have had far-reaching consequences for the faithful and for the future of Ethiopia.
Despite cautioning his cabinet members not to intervene, Abiy provided the Oromo nationalist rogue priests with armed forces as security and resources to carry out their plan. But the EOTC was not to be trifled with. The Church quickly organized itself, pursued legal action, and mobilized millions of EOTC followers within days. EOTC followers swiftly rallied to protect their faith and Church, and their resolve was unshakable.
As the protest drew near, hundreds of thousands began attending EOTC churches. Abiy, fearing for his hold on power, ultimately backed down. But he did not do so gracefully. Instead, he disguised himself as a mediator, attempting to hide his involvement in the attempt to divide the EOTC. His strategy to sow discord within the Church failed miserably, and his reputation as a leader willing to stoop to any level to maintain his grip on power was cemented.
EOTC followers have declared that they will not be divided or conquered, and the EOTC has emerged more powerful and more united than before. Abiy Ahmed’s attempt to sow discord in the name of language expediency has failed, and EOTC followers have sent a clear message: their faith cannot be bought or sold.
EOTC Demands
From the outset of the attack on the Ethiopian Tewahedo Orthodox Church (EOTC), the Church demonstrated exceptional professionalism and leadership. Its response was meticulous, approaching the issue both spiritually and legally. The EOTC showed a level of expertise that was truly remarkable. In fact, the way in which the EOTC conducted itself was so professional that it was as if it had become a sovereign state, fully capable of defending itself.
The Church began the battle the right way by handling the situation with the utmost professionalism in all aspects, from statements and speeches to negotiations and discussions. The EOTC’s approach was exemplary.
The EOTC made four demands from the government. If the demands were not met, the EOTC would hold a nationwide protest, followed by a non-violent, peaceful struggle against the government. The four demands were:
- A public apology from Abiy for his role in attempting to divide the Church.
- Reparations from the government for damages and fatalities caused to the EOTC.
- The return to the EOTC of all churches taken by fake Oromo priests and Oromo region forces.
- Justice for all government forces and individuals involved in the robbery and killing of Orthodox followers.
None of these demands has been met by the government.
After Meeting Abiy
After meeting Abiy, however, the sense of urgency that descended upon the EOTC created an atmosphere of haste and carelessness. The professional and meticulous approach that marked the beginning was quickly abandoned. It’s unclear why the lawyers were not involved in negotiating the demands or keeping people updated on the situation. Prematurely declaring good news without giving any detailed explanation was extremely unprofessional and deflated the momentum of the ETOC. The Church seemed to be freestyling its statements, and the once-powerful force retreated into its shell. The followers of EOTC were left in the dark about the trajectory of the discussions.
The EOTC is not taking the issue of those being imprisoned seriously, and the question of prisoners and martyrs has been pushed to the back burner. On the contrary, in the second discussion, they released a statement praising Abiy and telling EOTC followers to celebrate. This is out of order and repulsive, considering the death of 37 civilians as a win. The fact that they hint that they negotiated or accepted any demands from the Oromumma extremists is an insult to the ETOC followers because everyone knows it is bogus.
10 Bogus Demands
It appears that the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC) has found itself in a rather precarious situation. On the one hand, if they are taking the 10-point demands of the Oromumma agenda at face value and treating them as a serious deal or compromise, they have effectively violated their policy. This optics suggests that the EOTC was coerced into accepting the demands, and it means that the Church is engaging in politics, which contradicts their earlier statements that they would not involve themselves in political matters. By accepting the demands, they engage in political activity, which contradicts their earlier stance on the matter. They have already acknowledged that Abiy’s actions were a calculated political move, so by accepting the demands, they are going back on their words and accepting a political agenda, which is hypocritical.
On the other hand, there is another way to interpret the EOTC’s acceptance of the demands. Perhaps they have accepted them from an altruistic position, as what was stated in the list was not something the Church had not already done or was planning to do. If the EOTC accepted the demands symbolically, it could have many benefits for the Church. It could demonstrate the strength of the EOTC while showing the fake Oromumma priest faction being defeated in public. It could also show the defeat of Abiy’s agenda, as he had planned the 10-point demand to save face and showcase strength. The narrative he wants to push is that he has won because his initial political reasoning was that the initial question was about EOTC not using the Romo language. Even though all Ethiopians knew it was a lie and that it was a political move that had nothing to do with language barriers. To Abiy, the only way to hide his defeat was to use the same excuse he used to divide the EOTC at the start of his agenda, which was to make it about language and the 10-point demands and claim that it had been met. In reality, none of his superficial demands were met, and his political move was defeated resoundingly, at least for now.
EOTC’s Next Move
The first move that the EOTC needs to make is to step up its game and bring the same level of professionalism to its communication with its followers as it did at the beginning of the issue. This requires a major PR campaign that reaches out to people in various regions and explains in detail what has transpired. The EOTC should make every effort to communicate the truth accurately and in a way that resonates with its followers.
The second point to be addressed is that the EOTC has accepted the same priests who attempted to destroy the Church and given them titles and positions of authority. This decision is not only unwise, but it is also a potential recipe for disaster. As the saying goes, “Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” In other words, we should be cautious and shrewd in our dealings, especially when dealing with those who have previously acted against us. We cannot afford to be naive or gullible in the face of such treachery.
Thirdly, the EOTC must provide comfort and support to the families of those who have lost their lives in this struggle. The loss of life is a tragic outcome of this conflict, and it is important for the EOTC to show its followers that they are not alone in their grief.
Fourthly, the EOTC should send delegates to every prison to visit Orthodox Church followers who have been unjustly detained. This is an important gesture of solidarity and support for those who the government’s actions have victimized.
Fifthly, the EOTC should create a daily report of Orthodox followers who have been arrested. This will serve as a powerful tool for raising awareness of the plight of these individuals and putting pressure on the government to release them.
Finally, the EOTC should send thank-you letters to prominent faith leaders who have stood with them during this challenging time and expand their relationship with these allies. The recent discussions with the Russian Orthodox Church are a positive example of how the EOTC can build alliances that strengthen its position and advance its cause.
Abiy’s Next Move
Well, it seems we have a situation on our hands where Abiy, like a vengeful god, is seeking to strike down his opponents within the EOTC. The evidence suggests that he has been busy rounding up thousands of EOTC followers, particularly those who advocate for the Church’s interests, be they Orthodox or otherwise. Protestants, Muslims, and even atheists have been swept up in this dragnet.
And now, we see the next phase of his diabolical plan: divide and conquer. Abiy, having lost the political and PR battle, is not one to retreat gracefully. His fury has no doubt been aroused, and he will stop at nothing to regain the upper hand. He will use his agents within the Church to sow discord and mistrust, pitting strong personalities against each other. He will likely seek to remove or isolate figures like Abune Abraham, Abune Petros, and Abune Ermias in a bid to weaken the Church from within.
But that’s not all. Abiy’s penchant for foolishness knows no bounds. And to make matters worse, Abiy will resort to and continue to use his OLF terrorists to kill Orthodox Christians and burn churches. However, the EOTC must be willing to expose the government and fight back, as it did at the beginning of the attempted coup of the EOTC.