Ethiopian Prime Minister Blames Businessmen for Armed Conflicts

Ethiopian Prime Minister, on Tuesday, blamed wealthy businessmen for igniting armed conflicts in the country.

The Prime Minister held a meeting with the business community yesterday. Businessmen from across Ethiopia attended. He blamed wealthy people for 60% peace related problems in Ethiopia. He accusing rich businessmen of funding armed groups. PM Abiy Ahmed said government is ready to negotiate with armed groups. Business community should play a positive role in resolving conflicts by convincing armed groups to join talks with the government.

The businessmen raised their concerns about growing number of toll tax checkpoints set up along main roads. The Prime Minister defended it, saying that the checkpoints had been set up to control arms smuggling.

Several Ethiopian businessmen have been publicly funding pro government armed groups. Worku Aytenaw, a wealthy businessmen from the Amhara region, financed Fano militias and Amhara Special Forces during recent Tigray war. Back then, Fano and Amhara Special Force were fighting alongside Ethiopian National Force against Tigray fighters. In 2023, government forces launched disarmament of Fano groups, which led to the start of armed uprising by Fano militias against the government in Amhara region. Worku Aytenaw’s factories in Debre Markos and other cities were raided by security forces. He had to flee the country.

Ethiopian armed groups like Oromo Liberation Army, Amhara Fano Fighters etc. have been involved in extorting money from rich businessmen. The business community complains that government forces do not protect businessmen in case of threat from armed groups.

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