The Abiy project God, power and war in the New Ethiopia

"In 2018, Ethiopia and the world were in the throes of ‘Abiymania’, a fervour of popular support for the divided country’s young, charismatic new prime minister. Arriving as if from nowhere, Abiy Ahmed, a Pentecostal Christian, promised democratic salvation and national unity. For his role brokering a historic peace with neighbouring Eritrea, he received the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize. Hailed at home as a prophet and abroad as a liberal reformer, Abiy was all things to all men. But his democratic revolution wasn’t quite what it seemed. Within two years, Ethiopia had lurched into a devastating civil war, threatening state collapse. By 2023, fighting on an apocalyptic scale had killed hundreds of thousands in the northern Tigray region; famine stalked the land; and Ethiopia’s once-promising economy lay in tatters. But Abiy had never looked stronger. Based on hundreds of interviews with Ethiopians of all persuasions, and extensive reporting across the country, this book traces the fading hope of Ethiopia’s transition, unravelling the paradoxes of an enigmatic world leader. Despite everything, Abiy remains in power, embodying the new Ethiopia in all its contradiction, triumph and tragedy. But his attempt to remould the country in his image almost broke it—and may break it still." From book cover

Introduction -- Part one : Revolution -- 1. "Our forefathers" : the long struggle over history -- 2. Abiyot : the early life of Abiy Ahmed -- 3. Kingdom of God : Ethiopia's Pentecostal turn -- 4. Understanding INSA : inside the surveillance state -- 5. "Oromo first" : the Addis Ababa question and the rise of Oromo nationalism -- 6. The Stirrup and the Throne : Oromara and Abiy's ascen to the top -- Part two : Reform -- 7. Abiymania : the honeymoon whirlwind -- 8. Bridge of love : Ethiopia, Eritrea and the Tripartite Alliance -- 9. "It was chaos" : the federal state unravels -- 10. "Our son-of-a-bitch" : the Somali region and the empire's edges -- Part three : Crisis -- 11. "Their protector" : Asaminew Tsige and Amhara nationalism -- 12. The Hijacked Revolution : Wollega and the Oromo Liberation Army -- 13. "Medemer" : Addis Ababa and the Prosperity Party -- 14. "Mengistu Drift" : assassinating the transition -- Part four : War -- 15. "Game over" : the road to war in Tigray -- 16. "Just waiting to die" : ethnic cleansing and the Wolkait question -- 17. "Dirty war" : Eritrea on the march -- 18. "Our Adwa moment" : from Operation Alula to #kNoMore -- 19. "Do you love me?" : the road to Pretoria -- Epilogue