A Politics Centered on Hate: Reflections on Jawar Mohammed’s Recent Rhetoric

Politics rooted in hate inevitably implode. Hate may mobilize temporarily, but it cannot build enduring coalitions or sustain progress. This is the predicament individuals like Jawar Mohammed and Abiy Ahmed face today. Both have harnessed deep-seated hatred toward Tigray and the TPLF, leveraging it to unify disparate factions such as the Amhara elites, and others across Ethiopia. However, this foundation of hate is beginning to wane as politics driven by such divisiveness inevitably collapses under its own weight.

Fear, Not Vision

Jawar’s recent actions appear driven by fear, not a coherent vision for Ethiopia, as he desperately tries to justify in his recent book launch interviews with various media outlets. Only Tigrayans can decipher his rhetoric because we have known it since the early 2010s. His concern stems from the reality that Ethiopia is dangerously descending into widespread factionalism and internal strife, with political assassinations, armed conflicts, and instability dominating the landscape. Abiy Ahmed holds control over sections of Addis Ababa but struggles to assert authority elsewhere. Jawar is worried that if these issues are not managed, the Oromos, particularly prosperity entrepreneurs and their political energizers, will lose the relative advantages they currently enjoy. Most Oromos, unfortunately, continue to face significant social, political, and economic hardships, further complicating the dynamics.

The EPRDF Legacy

The EPRDF, despite flaws, transformed Ethiopia significantly. OPDO failed the Oromo people, ANDM the Amhara, and TPLF the Tigrayans, yet collectively, the EPRDF achieved visible social and economic progress. Ethiopia enjoyed relative peace, improved foreign relations, and economic growth. Many now regret the loss of stability under the EPRDF.

Jawar, in principle and ideology, sought to preserve EPRDF’s legacy under Oromo dominance. His animosity toward Tigrayans and the TPLF stems not from ideological differences but from a deep-seated desire to address historical grievances through political and economic dominance. By sugarcoating the federal system, Oromo elites aim to consolidate power as a form of retribution for past injustices. However, they view rational Tigrayans and their political organizations, particularly the TPLF, as the main obstacles to these aspirations.

A Call for Reflection

Tigrayan politics must incorporate the Oromo Prosperity Party’s ambitions into their political discourse and vision for Tigray’s future. Understanding and addressing these dynamics will be crucial for shaping a sustainable and strategic path forward for Tigray.