In the strongly worded statement, President Mustafe condemned the romanticization of former leaders, including a “feudal emperor,” a “military butcher,” and a “sectarian rebel-turned-leader,” without naming individuals directly. He accused certain political factions—particularly minority extremists—of promoting selective and dangerous narratives about Ethiopia’s history.
“These figures presided over some of the darkest chapters in our recent memory,” he wrote, referencing mass famines, summary executions, and ethnically exclusive governance. “You wonder if their expressed ‘yearning’ for national unity, democracy, and human rights isn’t some kind of cruel joke.”
Mustafe argued that the challenges facing Ethiopia today go far beyond contemporary political divisions, rooted instead in a complex and painful historical legacy. He urged citizens and political leaders alike to shift their focus away from nostalgia and toward building a more inclusive and peaceful future.
“There are no glorious past political days to look back to for inspiration or instruction,” he stated. “It is better to look forward, let bygones be bygones, and try to forge a different future through inclusive dialogue and peaceful politics.”
His comments come amid renewed national debates around historical legacies, identity politics, and calls for unity in a country grappling with deep political and social fractures.