Ethiopia Thrives Despite War – How Much More in Peace?

No one who has followed Ethiopia in recent decades can fail to notice that the five years from 2018 to the present day have been among the country’s most turbulent. Excluding the initial two years, during which the new administration focused on healing the nation through internal political reforms and external diplomacy with neighboring countries like Eritrea, the rest have been marked by war.

The subsequent two years, between 2020 and 2022, were consumed by the conflict in the northern part of the country, originating from the Tigray region. This conflict, along with its severe consequences, including loss of life, destruction of property, economic sabotage due to unwarranted international sanctions, and a general disruption of normal government priorities, severely hindered the meaningful implementation of the government’s plans for the nation.

This year, which is the fifth, has been no different, with another war underway in the Amhara region, following almost immediately after the end of the previous one. This means that out of the last five years, Ethiopia has been at war for at least three, and not just any ordinary wars – but existential wars.

The 2020 – 2022 war, for example, attacked not only Ethiopia’s will for survival as a sovereign nation-state, but also primed it for either regime attenuation or regime change. The brewing Amhara war is still nascent, but there are indicators it is geared toward the same goal, in both cases making it almost unthinkable that the country could have achieved any significant milestones during this period.

But yet, against all odds, it has!

Final filling of GERD completed

As we speak, the fourth and final filling of the Renaissance Dam has just been completed, despite the backdrop of internal challenges, regional subversion, and foreign interference. This achievement attests to Ethiopia’s resilience and unity in diversity, reminiscent of the historic unity and victory at the Battle of Adwa.

But more than that, it also marks the realization of a centuries-old aspiration to light up every household, relieve its mothers from the laborious task of fetching firewood to prepare everyday meals, and with contemporary economic opportunities in mind, fuel unprecedented industrial growth to position the country among the world’s great economies.

Among top 10 Honey Producers Globally

At the same time, Ethiopia has solidified its position as Africa’s largest honey producer and now ranks among the top ten global producers. Until last year, most of Ethiopia’s honey production relied on traditional beehives, with up to 97% of beehives using traditional methods.

These practices were deeply rooted in centuries-old traditions, particularly forest beekeeping in the southern and southwestern regions and backyard beekeeping throughout the country. However, acknowledging the inefficiency of these methods, the country launched the ‘Bounty of the Basket’ initiative last year, leading to a substantial increase in honey production to approximately 98 thousand tons per year through the adoption of modern methods.

Surplus What Production

Within the same period, the country has also achieved a surplus in wheat production for export, thanks to economic reforms implemented by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government, including a planting campaign aimed at reducing the country’s dependence on imports.

These efforts have turned out successful, as Ethiopia did not need to import any wheat throughout the fiscal year concluded in July. This not only bolsters the country’s food security but also translates into substantial economic benefits, with Ethiopia saving a substantial $1 billion in foreign exchange.

BRICS membership bid accepted

To cap it all, Ethiopia’s bid for BRICS membership was accepted during the 15th Summit in South Africa, making it one of only six countries to join the previously five-member alliance starting in 2024.

This acceptance into BRICS represents a significant geo-economic, geo-political, and diplomatic victory for Ethiopia. BRICS, now covering approximately 26% of the world’s land area and comprising about 42% of the global population is poised to exert an increasingly influential role in global geopolitics and trade.

This aligns perfectly with Ethiopia’s ambitious economic aspirations for prosperity, as membership opens doors to previously unavailable foreign opportunities, including technology, foreign direct investment, and foreign debt reduction.

How much more at peace?

Considering the above achievements, which are only a select few of the country’s notable accomplishments, achieved while in the midst not just of military conflict but also amid a willfully manipulated media narrative of events in Ethiopia, tailored to drive a wedge between the people and the federal government, one can only imagine how much more this country can and will achieve once it musters peace going forward.

Will Prime Minister Abiy be the leader to build upon the solid foundation of political reforms he began when he became prime minister (before the TPLF war interrupted), or will it be another leader who will take up this mantle? That is up to Ethiopians. However, there is no denying that Prime Minister Abiy, having been thrust into Ethiopia’s political leadership during the country’s most tumultuous period, has overseen unprecedented achievements against all odds.