I have just started reading a pre-publication version of the biography of PM Abiy by the Economist’s Ethiopia correspondent, Tom Gardner. He was based in Ethiopia, but was expelled by the government and now reports from Kenya. Tom – whom I have known for some time – is an excellent journalist and it is, of course, very well written. It also shines a light on a remarkably illusive leader.
The book opens with a telling incident.
Tom had been attempting to get in touch with an Ethiopian contact he calls ‘Napoleon’ – someone who had known Abiy since they worked together as counter-intelligence officers in the 2000s.
Napoleon had promised to share some of his insights about the PM. But when it came to the interview, Napoleon declined – simply blocking Tom’s phone.
“It was an iron law: the closer someone had been to Abiy, the less likely they were to talk about him. From childhood neighbours, to friends from church, to allies-turned-enemies in politics – even those living far away in safe countries in the West were often too afraid to speak with me. Some would read my messages and then block my number. A few would reply, promising to schedule and interview, only to disappear. Many would not answer my calls at all.”
It is such a telling insight.
I have not finished the book, so I won’t make a final judgement. But from what I have read so far it is an excellent summary of this enigmatic figure, who now controls the fate of Ethiopia and has such a huge influence on the Horn of Africa as a whole.
Martin Plaut 
when is the book being released?
It is published in June https://www.hurstpublishers.com/book/the-abiy-project/
“Mahibere Kidusan is a recognized entity that was established nearly forty years ago.
In Ethiopia, it undertook several projects that supports the services of the Ethiopian orthodox church.””Borkena
If Mahibreseytan (calling itself Mahibrekidusan) has been around for 40 years, does that mean that its despicable deeds are acceptable?
Mahibrekidusan was supporting and sponsoring genocide against people of Tigray.
If religious virtues and sanctity were correlated with the age of a depraved Satanic, political, or genocide perpetrator like Mahibreseytan, there would be an abundance of examples of horrific crimes carried out by organizations and individuals that have been around for more than 40 years. In addition, Mahibreseytan undertook several projects sole to exploit the plight of impoverished men and women and to collect funds for personal gain and organizational profit.
The arrest of genociders such as the Chairperson of the Mahibre Kidusan or any other member of the so-called Mahibre Kidusan could not be associated with an attack on the Orthodox Church.
The prosperity party should continue to arrest those satanic members of Mahibreseytan who were adding fuel to the fire (financing genocide and cheering) during the two-year conflict in Tigray and Oromia .
The arrest of genociders such as the Chairperson of the Mahibre Kidusan or any other genocidal member cannot be linked with an attack on the Ethiopian Orthodox Church