The Fear Narrative and the Politics of Power in Ethiopia

 The Fear Narrative and the Politics of Power in Ethiopia

One of the most repeated refrains in contemporary Ethiopian political discourse is this: “If this government collapses, the country will collapse with it.” Often presented as a patriotic warning or a strategic truth, this statement is a manipulative political tool. It disguises personal or group interest in the language of national survival. Stripped of its rhetorical costume, many of these politicians and supporters are really saying: “If this government falls, we lose our chance to stay in power—or ever come to power. So we must protect it, not for the people but ourselves.”

This narrative is not unique to Ethiopia. Throughout history, authoritarian regimes, weak transitional governments, and insecure political elites have justified their grip on power by claiming that they are the only barrier standing between stability and chaos. However, this fear-based argument is false and dangerous in the Ethiopian context, where statehood has been historically centralised and built on elite bargains.

The Real Message Behind the Fear

When politicians say “the country will collapse,” they do not mean that Ethiopian citizens will cease to exist or that society will disintegrate into dust. They truly mean this: “If this government collapses, our privileges, our networks, our control over resources and power structures will be gone.” It is not the country they are worried about—it is themselves. The so-called fear of “national collapse” is often just the fear of losing access to state machinery.

For some, especially those who rode the wave of political change in 2018, the fall of the current regime would mean the end of their ambitions. They do not have the grassroots legitimacy, institutional strength, or ideological coherence to survive outside state patronage. That is why they speak the language of catastrophe—not to warn the people, but to scare them into submission.

The Danger of Manufactured Fear

This narrative is dangerous for several reasons:

1. It breeds passivity among the people. If citizens are told that the only choice is between dictatorship and disintegration, they will feel they have no safe alternative. It kills democratic imagination and stifles reform movements.

2. It legitimises authoritarianism. Fear allows governments to justify emergency laws, crackdowns on dissent, arrests of journalists, and violent repression. Everything becomes excusable in the name of “saving the country.”

3. It blocks accountability. No one dares to challenge the system, because doing so would supposedly endanger national unity. This excuses failure, corruption, and injustice at the top.

4. It undermines political pluralism. Other voices, especially those calling for deep reform, federal democracy, or transitional justice, are painted as enemies of the state.

Political Survival Disguised as Patriotism

Let’s be honest: a stable and just Ethiopia will not come from one man, party, or ethnic group ruling at the expense of others. Those who claim that only they can “save the country” are either deluded or dishonest. Countries do not collapse because bad governments fall; bad governments stay too long, suppress opposition, divide their people, and destroy institutions.

It is laughable, indeed pitiful, when politicians use the language of nationalism to mask their personal fear of irrelevance. One can only respond to such hypocrisy with dark humour: Find your fool and laugh at such people! Because, truly, it is absurd to equate one regime with the fate of an entire country of over 120 million people, with diverse languages, identities, and aspirations.

Ethiopia Is Bigger Than Any Regime

Ethiopians have survived emperors, military juntas, Marxist revolutionaries, and ethnonationalist federations. They will also survive the current government, whether it stays or falls. Ethiopia needs not a messiah but a system that respects human dignity, ensures fair representation, and builds institutions that outlive individuals.

The future of Ethiopia should not depend on whether a single party remains in power. It should depend on whether citizens can choose their leaders, whether justice is delivered fairly, and whether state violence is replaced by dialogue and democratic processes.

Conclusion: Reject the Fear, Embrace Accountability

When politicians wrap their selfish ambition in the flag and say, “If we fall, the nation falls,” we must respond with courage, not fear. Ethiopia belongs to its people, not to a ruling elite. Stability built on fear is fake. The country truly needs justice, truth, accountability, and inclusive governance.

So when you hear such statements, don’t be afraid—smile. Understand the hidden message. And say confidently, “The fall of any government does not mean the fall of Ethiopia. The country is greater than your seat of power.” Then find your fool, laugh a little, and get back to the serious business of building a better Ethiopia.