𝑁𝑒𝑤𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝑖𝑒𝑤𝑠 by Teshome Beyene
JUDGES SPEAK OUT WITH ONE VOICE — A BRAVE AND NECESSARY STAND
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What happened inside a Mekelle courtroom recently was nothing short of alarming. A court session related to the tragic death of Zewdu Haftu—who was violently assaulted and run over by a car about two years ago—had to be interrupted due to loud booing and physical scuffles inside the courtroom. Emotions ran high as both parties were present, and tensions quickly spiraled out of control. The situation became so volatile that the judges had to be escorted to safety.
In a rare and brave move, the judges, through their association, issued a strong statement condemning the incident and highlighting the rising threats to their safety. Prosecutors soon echoed this call, urging the public and authorities to uphold the rule of law and protect the judiciary.
When those entrusted with delivering justice are forced to fear for their own safety, it signals a deeper erosion—one not just of order, but of the civic covenant that underpins any functioning society.
THE CALL OF DOCTORS IS GOING BEYOND REGIONAL CONFINES
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It is so unusual that physicians do protest on salaries and benefits, and more so lamenting that they cannot lead a dignified life such as eating three times a day, being able to pay rent and sending kids to school. It is so pathetic and sad that the crème de la crème are scraping through life. The contrast is quite sharp in terms of the focus of Abiy’s government. Abiy and his ministers are sleepless to showcase gaudy projects whose values run into billions of Birr, and no sense of compassion or consideration for the humans who toil and produce goods and services.
The good thing about the protest of staying at home (labour strike) is that they are pervasive and the doctors in Addis are joined by other doctors in other parts of the country. Close to 100 doctors are imprisoned, and one notable of those is a female doctor apparently hailing from Tigray and named Mahlet Guush, whose picture was making the rounds in social media.
The ‘White Gown’ strike is distinctive in its appeal coming from a professional group who are supposed to lead a high standard of living.
THE VISIT OF GENERAL TADESE WOREDA TO THE SOUTH AND WEST — A CONTEMPORARY ACT IN WINDOWDRESSING OR A GENUINE ONE?
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Getachew Reda visited Oromia and Amhara regions amidst fanfare of reception, and so has General Tadese. The visits to Jimma and Bahir Dar are just replicas of what Getachew had done two years ago, the same tone being played over and over. This should have been complemented by people-to-people relationships in an incessant manner. That has not seemed to transpire much.
Besides, the gift reception and anointing of chiefdom by the Oromo fathers to Tigrayan guests smacks of a tired act—one that is too superficial and skin-deep. What is required is an overhauling of the whole relationship and a genuine attempt to turn things around, and not the glossy PR show-offs.
Let us once again see what that has brought about in terms of results for Tigrai, and how far that has taken conversations forward.
“ፅምዶ” — THE NEW POLITICAL BUZZWORD AND ITS UNSPOKEN REALITIES
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These days, the word “ፅምዶ” (partnership or alliance) is everywhere in political discussions. It’s a catchy, resonant Tigrigna term, apparently coined by the EPLF/PFDJ—once again showing their linguistic savvy.
For example, Stalin Gebreselassie from the USA and a stalwart of the resistance during the 2020–22 war stayed in Asmara throughout this week and even participated in the 34th Eritrean Liberation Day celebrations as a guest of Eritrea and as the front face of “ፅምዶ”.
During the public address for that anniversary, Isaias Afwerki spoke—but notably, he made no positive gesture toward Tigrai, despite all the hype around this so-called “partnership.”
Many say that the concept of “ፅምዶ” has gained sudden prominence since Abiy Ahmed positioned himself on a war footing with Eritrea. For Isaias, it appears that securing a wartime partner was urgently needed—much like his alliance with Abiy Ahmed two years ago against Tigrai.
Yet, Isaias remained as stern and unmoved as ever on Tigrai-related matters, diverting attention instead to global politics—talking about the USA, Ukraine, and other faraway issues.
What worries me deeply is how those advocating for this “ፅምዶ” have considered what Tigrai stands to gain from it. We know the EPLF is not about “win-win” deals. Their approach has always been take-it-all.
So, while “ፅምዶ” sounds promising on paper, its real meaning and benefits remain unclear—especially for Tigrai.
PRETORIA TALKS REVISITED — TIMING, TRUTH, AND LESSONS UNLEARNED
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This week, the spotlight was on Getachew Reda and Redwan Hussein—two key figures who led their respective delegations in Pretoria during the intense negotiations to broker a permanent ceasefire for an extremely bloody war. Both appeared in extended televised interviews, offering their insights into how the Pretoria Agreement was crafted and how the parties have behaved since.
Their narratives largely align: both portray the TPLF as a renegade, backward organization that actively tried to undermine the peace process. They revealed internal divisions within the TPLF delegation itself—factions at odds during the talks, with Getachew and Tsadikan holding closed-door meetings with Ethiopian government officials to hammer out a final deal. According to Getachew, despite having broad authority to negotiate peace, some TPLF delegates covertly reported back to leadership in Mekelle, deliberately stalling and sabotaging progress.
Yet, I wonder: is now the right time to revisit Pretoria so openly, barely two years on? Would it not be more prudent for Getachew to present a detailed, thoughtful account in book form—allowing the nation and even the world at large to learn lessons and address the many unresolved questions surrounding those negotiations?
One moment that stood out was Redwan’s emotional claim that a mere day or two’s delay in signing the agreement could have cost tens of thousands of lives. This assertion starkly contrasts with public knowledge that the federal forces were pushing hard to capture Adigrat and Mekelle, seeking a decisive victory to crush the TDF and call the whole negotiation ‘bingo’!
Getachew’s media appearance seemed designed to support Redwan’s account rather than challenge it, leaving such glaring contradictions unaddressed.
A SWEET BREAK FROM POLITICS
For a change of mood, Tigrean music fans have been swept away by a beautiful new love song by Mekonnen Ezra, “እንተወሓደ” (Entewahade).
With its charming old-style dance moves and nostalgic feel, the music video is a real treat. It celebrates love, loyalty, and marriage — and people are clearly loving it. In just two weeks, it’s crossed 3.5 million views, one of the highest ever for a Tigrigna song!
So refreshing to see young artists bringing joy and heart to Tigrigna music.
