The crocodile tears of Abiy Ahmed—the decorated horse at the podium
By Ephrem B Hidug
September, 2025
“Seyoum Mesfin’s legacy cannot be erased. His life was a plow. His words were seeds.”
“It is by the sweat of the ox that the horse is praised.”
In Ethiopian allegory, there is a saying:(የበሬን ውለታ ወሰደው ፈረሱ ከሁዋላ ተነስቶ ቀድሞ በመድረሱ)
For the purpose of this article, the Amharic allegory is translated as: “The horse won mankind’s favor over the ox because it is faster.”
At first glance, it seems a tale of speed triumphing over strength. But beneath this lies a bitter irony: admiration is often misplaced. Applause chases spectacle, not substance. The ox—slow, silent, and steady—tills the land, feeds the people, and sustains life. Yet it is the horse—adorned, swift, and visible—that receives the grain, the glory, and the gaze of admiration.
So too, in the story of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), the oxen—those who truly toiled—are forgotten while the horses bask in praise. The dedicated engineer Simegnew Bekele and the diplomatic architect Seyoum Mesfin, both key figures in GERD’s creation, were tragically killed by their own government. Meanwhile, Abiy Ahmed wept during the dam’s inauguration for reasons that remain unclear. (I wish to hear his explanation on reputable platforms like BBC Hardtalk, and DW’s Conflict Zone where real questions are asked and honest answers expected.)
Yet, as we inaugurate the GERD, it is worth remembering that Ethiopia lost two of its most indispensable oxen years ago—Seyoum Mesfin, the statesman whose diplomatic efforts laid the dam’s cornerstone, and Simegnew Bekele, the chief engineer and mastermind behind its construction. Now that the dam stands complete—a testament to engineering excellence and national determination—their names were notably absent from the official inauguration ceremony. Regrettably, Seyoum Mesfin has received no recognition in the media. I choose to mention him because I am a firsthand witness to his pivotal contributions and lasting achievements
In his place stands Abiy Ahmed, the decorated horse at the podium—basking in praise for a journey he barely walked
Who Plowed the Nile?
GERD is today hailed as a monument to Ethiopian pride and resilience. But it did not sprout from Abiy Ahmed’s Nobel-clad shadow. It was nurtured through decades of plowing — exhausting negotiations, strategic planning, and bold resistance against global pressure.
At the heart of that labor was Seyoum Mesfin. As Ethiopia’s longtime foreign minister and the second chief diplomat, he crafted the doctrine of Nile sovereignty with his EPRDF giants, breaking the chains of colonial-era treaties that denied Ethiopia its rightful share of the river. While others raced for global approval, Seyoum dug in — forging African alliances, defending Ethiopia in international forums, and refusing to let his country be painted as a regional threat.
Together with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, Seyoum laid the groundwork to fund and build GERD independently when few believed Ethiopia could do it.
He plowed. And plowed. And plowed.
After Meles Zenawi’s passing, Hailemariam Desalegn stepped in — not to claim the harvest, but to continue plowing the field. He was another ox: quiet, steady, and committed to the ideals that birthed GERD. He didn’t just inherit the vision; he walked the talk, refining plans, managing pressures, and driving construction forward. His leadership helped transform the dream into tangible progress.
In contrast, Abiy Ahmed came to power not with a plow in hand, but with a thirst for applause. His record on capital projects reveals a lack of depth and discipline. His grasp of state interests, strategic infrastructure, and diplomacy is, at best, shallow. Had GERD not already been built stone by stone by Ethiopians before him, there is little doubt: he would have aborted it.
Abiy lacks the vision for Grand National projects, the courage to defend them, and the commitment to see them through. GERD, to him, is not a lifeline — it’s a child’s toy, waved before cameras for attention, with no understanding of the blood, sweat, and sacrifice it took to build it.
The Horse Arrives
By the time Abiy Ahmed galloped onto the scene in 2018, the fields had been tilled, the foundation poured, and the direction set. Yet he trotted in as though the harvest was his.
Hungry for global praise, Abiy began undoing years of principled diplomacy. He made reckless overtures to Egypt, verbally endorsing the colonial narrative of “historical rights” — a position Ethiopia had rejected for decades. To win another peace prize, he used GERD not as a lifeline, but as a prop. In doing so, he handed sensitive documents to Egypt, welcomed U.S. and World Bank interference, and betrayed the sovereign path forged by those before him.
The technical committee fractured. Seasoned experts resigned. The Nile Basin Initiative and its Cooperative Framework — once stalled under his leadership — has now been ratified and entered into force, reaffirming the principle of equitable water sharing.
This was not a leader defending the oxen’s labor. This was a showman galloping across their backs.
The Oxen Who Fell
And then came the deaths.
- Engineer Simegnew Bekele, the face of GERD’s construction, found lifeless in a parked car — under unexplained and suspicious circumstances.
- Seyoum Mesfin, gunned down in a political purge, far from his rightful place as a national hero.
The official stories are tidy. But the timing, the pattern — they raise questions that remain unanswered. If Seyoum was the ox who plowed, Abiy is the horse who came to feast — trampling those who cleared the path.
The inauguration of GERD should have been a moment of collective pride — a tribute to Ethiopia’s decades of determination. Instead, it became a pageant of self-promotion.
The real architects were missing.
The silent laborers were silenced.
The dam they built became a stage for those who sought only applause.
Yet history, like the earth, remembers the footprints of the ox.
A Dam Built in Silence
GERD is not Abiy Ahmed’s victory.
It is Ethiopia’s inheritance — built by the sweat of those who knew they would never see the stage.
Let us name them. Let us honor them. Let us not mistake the horse’s glamour for the ox’s grind.
Seyoum Mesfin’s legacy cannot be erased. His life was a plow. His words were seeds.
And today, as the turbines turn, we hear not just the roar of water, but the echo of those who dared to dream when no one else did.
Now that the dam stands complete—a testament to engineering excellence and national determination—their names were notably absent from the official inauguration ceremony. Regrettably, Seyoum Mesfin has received little to no recognition in the media. I choose to mention him because I am a firsthand witness to his pivotal contributions and lasting achievements.
GERD is more than a dam. It is a legacy. And legacies demand truth.
Let us feed the ox. Let us tell the story right.
Let us not honor those who arrived late to the field — but those who built it from dust.
Author’s Note: This article is a political metaphor. “OX”, and “Horse” are symbolic figures, not literal references to any ethnic or political group. The goal is to provoke thoughtful reflection, not incitement.
Martin Plaut 
This could not be farther the truth, the weyane minister of war was not instrumental in the GERD projects or inception. It was a way for the junta to steal billions from poor Ethiopians. The Tigreans great in stealing, looting and dividing Ethiopia!!
I personally give big credit for meles zenawi who started the project similarly I would like to give the necessary credit for Abiy Ahmed and H.m Deslaign … nonetheless,I hate the backward TPLF ideology..designed by the west ,supported by Arab enemies plus Americans who backed them to defeat USSR .. at any cost that Ethiopians might encountered…shame on all
At the inception of GERD, one wonders on what perspective you were standing—or perhaps remain. To dismiss the facts and ridicule them is, in essence, a denial of history in the making.If you regard yourself first and foremost as Ethiopian, I kindly urge you to recognize the reality before us. Indeed, the EPRDF (with TPLF at its core) committed both technical and fundamental mistakes. Such shortcomings can be corrected or even set aside. Yet, the positive contributions clearly outweigh the failures.To highlight only two examples: lifting over 20 million Ethiopians out of poverty into the middle class, and enabling genuine political, economic, and security empowerment across the regions. These accomplishments will stand as defining elements in Ethiopia’s modern history.To appreciate this, one must embrace Ethiopia in her entirety. Otherwise, one risks remaining in perpetual discontent, at a time when the nation has reached a point of no return.
the most Ethiopian diaspora was oppressed to build renaissance dam example professor Brhanu Nega,Tamang Beyene they campaigned against funnd raising events in all over America and London what I remember I am proud my self as members of raised money to build the dam for my people 100/% Tigrayan disporase are a witness and raised money strongly you guys you can’t accept the truth and Ethiopias diversity at the time how many of you tried to stop our fund raising event and you did it at end but the truth is no body hide it is bigger than you think
Martin Plaut
This article is not an honest reflection of Ethiopia’s history, but a paid smear campaign written on behalf of corrupt TPLF-era officials who fear their fading relevance. Its allegories of “oxen” and “horses” are nothing more than veiled attempts to glorify a disgraced political elite while discrediting the progress Ethiopia has achieved under new leadership.
Let us be clear:
The GERD is not the property of Seyoum Mesfin, Meles Zenawi, or any other TPLF figure. It belongs to the Ethiopian people, millions of whom sacrificed their salaries, gold, and livelihoods to fund its construction. To credit it solely to TPLF leaders is to erase that national sacrifice and to insult the very people who built it.
The TPLF, while in power, did not embody the “steady oxen” of the allegory. They presided over corruption, ethnic division, and looting of state resources. Billions were siphoned away while the people bore the burden. To now portray those same figures as selfless nation-builders is revisionist history of the worst kind.
The attack on Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is equally hollow. The claim that he merely “arrived late to the field” ignores the reality: Abiy Ahmed’s government carried GERD across the finish line. He stood firm against unprecedented foreign pressure, resisted Egypt’s and Sudan’s attempts to internationalize the dispute, and maintained Ethiopia’s sovereign right to finish the dam. That is leadership in action—not “applause-seeking,” but resolve under fire.
The article’s attempt to politicize the deaths of Simegnew Bekele and Seyoum Mesfin is disgraceful. These were tragic moments, but to present conspiracy theories without evidence is to weaponize grief. It dishonors their memory and uses their names as tools for a TPLF propaganda agenda.
In reality, this piece is not about truth or justice. It is about rehabilitating the image of a corrupt network that dragged Ethiopia into conflict and plundered the state for decades. The author pretends to honor Ethiopia’s “oxen,” but what he truly honors is the TPLF’s legacy of division and theft.
The Ethiopian people know better. They know the GERD is a national achievement, built across administrations but completed under a government that refused to compromise sovereignty. No allegory, no smear, and no propaganda can erase that fact.
History will not be rewritten by those who were paid to lie. The dam stands as a monument not to individuals or factions, but to the collective resilience of Ethiopians—and to a future that corrupt officials can no longer control.
This article is nothing more than paid propaganda by corrupt TPLF-era networks desperate to rewrite history. The GERD was never the achievement of a few “oxen” in power—it is the blood, sweat, and sacrifice of millions of ordinary Ethiopians. It is a testament to a nation that refused to be held hostage by narrow political ambitions and historic grievances. Attempts to claim otherwise are not just false—they are an insult to every Ethiopian who contributed to this monumental achievement.
The truth is clear: Ethiopia’s progress is driven by its people, not by a fading cadre of self-interested elites. The GERD symbolizes national unity, vision, and determination. No smear, no allegory, no selective history can change that reality. Ethiopia moves forward, not backward, and history will remember the builders, not the would-be rewriters of a convenient past.
Great knowledgeable response
Thank you!
Ethiopians had fought for freedom…and they continued doing so…this dam is the national symbol of generational sacrifices paid by our forefathers. It is a modern Adwa victory…it is a national parade, a march for glory before the face of the world that defamed our names and used as an example of drought and poverty.
It is neither the property of TPLF nor the government led by Dr Abiy Ahmed…it is every Ethiopian treasure…pride and identity…it is our national symbol of winning!!!
Ayeee Ephrem. When you’re in the picture, you can’t see the picture.
You have got to be kidding! This was the guy who failed to understand the Algers descion that Badme is part of Eritrea and called Ethiopians to celebrate the victory and demonstration. They later found out he was dumb as bag of chips.
thank you Martin Plaut
🙏
Good and Balanced Article
Seyium Mesfin has made no contributions to GERD and holds a zero percent stake. He was involved in the robbery that METEC perpetrated against the nation. He claimed that the dam was sold to Egypt while simultaneously being a key figure in the corruption that ensued; he was part of Egypt’s covert plan to prevent the dam’s completion, leading to corruption and mismanagement. King Haile Selassie was instrumental in the dam’s conception and designed all 33 dams that were intended to be constructed. Meles Zenawi announced that the dam should be built during the Arab Spring, which was a favorable timeline, while Dr. Abiy addressed the corruption and theft perpetrated by the TPLF through METEC, swiftly implementing solutions to ensure the dam’s is completed.
Why do you claim that water must be combed and that you are boiled? It appears that you have recently become obsessed with your deceased father. Journalism is commendable when it is impartial and grounded in facts. You have recounted numerous good deeds attributed to your late father, but allow me to highlight some of the heinous crimes committed by Meles Zenawi. From the very first day in his office, he caused thousands of former Mengistu or Derg soldiers to be left on the streets without food or shelter. Later, he summoned them to fight in the Ethio-Eritrean war and, after winning the conflict, instructed them to return while Ethiopian soldiers were merely 100 kilometers from the Asmara palace. Over 100,000 Ethiopian soldiers were sacrificed as a result. These were the two primary crimes that your deceased father perpetrated against Ethiopia.
He made the decision to construct the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), yet he entrusted the project to a thief named Meteca, who had no knowledge of dam construction, resulting in a $5 billion project that was marred by corruption and misallocation of our resources to his village associates. Furthermore, all of his military generals were corrupt, engaging in the construction of buildings both domestically and internationally, playing a significant role in the plundering of the country’s resources, as well as facilitating the theft of Ethiopian resources to Mekele. It has been documented that his generals were committing acts of rape against men in prisons on a daily basis. He was responsible for the murder of innocent politicians, the destruction of the economy, and the degradation of vital social structures.
Abiy Ahmed’s Tears Were Real, Not “Crocodile”
Ephrem B Hidug’s allegory of oxen and horses may be poetic, but it is misapplied. To call Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s tears at the inauguration of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) “crocodile tears” is a cynical distortion of a deeply human moment. His emotion was not staged theater—it was the natural release of a leader who had carried the weight of a nation and lived to see its dream made real.
When Abiy took office, GERD was not a polished jewel waiting to be unveiled. It was unfinished, weighed down by financial strain, fractured diplomacy, and relentless external pressure. He inherited not a field of grain but a field choked with weeds. Yet under his watch, the turbines turned, power was generated, and Ethiopia stood firm against immense foreign interference.
This is where the allegory fails. If Seyoum Mesfin and Simegnew Bekele were the oxen who ploughed, then Abiy Ahmed was the farmer who defended the field from predators and carried the harvest to the people. To sneer at his tears is to sneer at the burden he bore: a burden of leadership, sacrifice, and national survival.
Crocodile tears are false. Abiy Ahmed’s tears were genuine—the sign of a leader who felt the pride, the pain, and the hope of his people in one overwhelming instant. They honoured Ethiopia’s struggle and its triumph, reminding us that leadership is not only about strategy and strength but also about humanity.
God bless Ethiopia, the mother land🙏
Why would you say that? In my opinion, this dam is far more important than any political agenda, as you mentioned. It belongs to every Ethiopian not to the former government or the current one. It stands as a symbol that we Africans are capable of achieving great things with our own money and our own people. I don’t think shaming someone for crying is a dignified way to express yourself, because those tears were not only from the current prime minister, Ethiopians everywhere cried. Are you saying we shouldn’t? We must not forget those who began building the dam, but we should also respect those who finished it. Both deserve admiration and recognition. Please don’t twist this into politics.
The fact you mentioned none of domesticated animals the ox or the horse the do not represent any ethnic group made me laugh so hard. I forgot the entire article I read. To make it obvious you should’ve added the Lion. Fair and balanced?
Yes, Simegnew Bekele paid the ultimate price, giving his life for the country. He worked day and night at the GERD site for 7 years. However, to suggest that Seyoum Mesfin was the man behind GERD is an absolute lie.
Seyoum Mesfin didn’t do anything for the country except looting billions of dollars. Why do you think he became Ethiopian Ambassador to China after he left his post as Minister of Foreign Affairs? It was to facilitate the robbery.
Have you been following the story of Tsehai Real Estate in Addis Ababa that built a village by CMC Square? Tsehai Real Estate was promoted as a Chinese investor doing business in the country. The actual owner was Seyoum Mesfin.
Tsehai Real Estate was asking property buyers to wire the full 100% amount to Djibouti in exchange for a 20% discount. Robbery in the open.
Then, about a year ago, the police raided the Chinese “investors” and found hundreds of thousands of dollars in their residence and they are still in prison.
Meles Zenawi started the project. Hailemariam Desalegn continued, and Abiy Ahmed finished it. The lake is named Nigat (Amharic for Dawn).
May God bless Ethiopia and Africa.
This article offers a poignant tribute to overlooked contributors in Ethiopia’s GERD journey, yet its impact is diluted by notable inconsistencies and rhetorical overreach.
While the allegorical framing of oxen and horses is culturally evocative, it oversimplifies the complex interplay of leadership, diplomacy, and institutional continuity. The portrayal of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ignores his administration’s role in final-stage negotiations, regional diplomacy, and operational commissioning—critical phases in any megaproject lifecycle.
More concerning is the article’s reliance on unverified claims, particularly the suggestion that Simegnew Bekele and Seyoum Mesfin were “killed by their own government.” Such assertions, presented without evidence, risk undermining the credibility of the piece and weaponizing tragedy for political narrative. Similarly, the accusation that Abiy endorsed colonial water rights or handed sensitive documents to Egypt lacks substantiation and contradicts Ethiopia’s official diplomatic posture.
From a professional standpoint, the article leans heavily on emotive language and poetic lamentation at the expense of analytical rigor. It fails to acknowledge the continuity of GERD across administrations and the institutional efforts that transcend individual leaders. The absence of balanced perspective and reliance on conjecture reflect a lack of discipline.
Ethiopia’s development narrative deserves sober reflection, not theatrical revisionism.
Thank you.
This is a powerful and moving reflection. I fully agree that GERD is not the victory of one individual but the inheritance of an entire nation—built through sacrifice, persistence, and silent labor. The real architects were not those who sought applause, but those who carried the burden with determination.While Abiy Ahmed sought to turn GERD into a stage for political self-promotion, he failed to recognize the weight of history and the responsibility of honoring those who made it possible. His weakness lies in claiming applause where he offered little sacrifice, and in overlooking the very people whose vision and endurance gave Ethiopia this achievement.Seyoum Mesfin’s legacy cannot and should not be overlooked. He struggled for justice, equality, and national dignity, and in doing so, he helped shape Ethiopia’s history in ways many never imagined. Even in his absence, his contributions live on, and the world will not forget the impact of his work.At the end of the day, Seyoum Mesfin is indeed the winner, for his vision and sacrifices continue to inspire Ethiopia’s future.Thank you, Martin Plaut, for preserving and sharing this important memory.
Guys read this.some say this Ethiopian dam renessance project was started for taking a money from some poor society, some guys say boosting their pocket for tplf guys.you know why tplf didn’t build in ethiopia history mega projects , but they build their pocket for their children plus taking them foreign country.
During tplf time The Ethiopian renessance dam project was not started with a quality materials, that is why the project was late at that time.if you think such things simply they were plan to take a money from poor family.
In 2010 E.C after the political structure was changed by prosperity party things become fast to finish the mega projects. That is why the world shift to look back ethiopia properly. Everything become amazing like the wheat crop projects, the green legacy, the corrider door projects, the digital projects and the renessance dam project.we all ethiopias know the answer who is sensitive for become a big nation with prosperity thing,& we also know who was selfish by collecting the dollar and we also know in our heart who is theif by the time tplf.
To make clear now we didn’t open our door for guys who is thinking to split our big nation, now we are one like before 100 years ago by the time standing to defeat Italian fascism. Now we dream big we also build big things for the rest of Africa brothers.