A Plea To Eskinder Nega

Bylelien Scy

I recall one of your interviews about the Judgment of Solomon (1 Kings 3:16-28). In it, you urged Ethiopians to act in the spirit of the wise king and prevent Fano from being divided into warring factions.

The biblical story is familiar: Two women claimed to be the same child’s mother. Without the tools of modern DNA, the wise King Solomon devised a test. He ordered the baby split in two, giving each woman half. The true mother, unwilling to see her child harmed, relinquished her claim, choosing the baby’s life over ownership and pride. Through the selfless act of the genuine mother, Solomon saw the truth. His wisdom brought clarity, peace, and justice in a moment of bitter division.

Today, the struggle for Amhara’s future is no less crucial. And you, Eskinder, stand at the heart of it. Your commitment to the Amhara’s liberation is unquestionable. No one can challenge the depth of your sacrifice. You left a comfortable life abroad, abandoning personal safety, family, and stability. You endured imprisonment, humiliation, and torture in the name of justice for Ethiopians. You have carried burdens most would never dare to bear. Your struggle has become a symbol of resilience.

But your recent acts have raised concerns. Your engagement with international intermediaries without the knowledge and agreement of other Fano fighters has cast shadows of doubt about trust, unity, and victory within the Fano movement. Whether these fears are real or exaggerated, they are causing fractures and seeds of mistrust among Fano leaders, diaspora supporters, and allies. Many in the diaspora, including me, once eager to finance and advocate for the cause, now hesitate. The excuse: “I won’t support Fano until they come together.”

Eskinder, the stakes are too high for division among Fano leaders. Fano’s unity is the only path to victory. The burden of leadership is not about personal ambition, but about making the right decision at the right time—even when it is the most challenging choice.

Your role in this struggle carries unique weight due to your educationinternational exposure, and unwavering commitment. You have brought the movement this far, but now you must ask yourself: Will I follow Solomon’s example and ensure Fano’s unity and survival, even if it means stepping back?

Like the true mother in King Solomon’s judgment, who sacrificed her claim to save her child, will you set aside personal leadership ambitions to preserve Fano’s unity and ensure victory?

You have the power to bring Fano together. Start a virtual conference with all of Fano’s leaders.

Facilitating this process while excluding yourself from nomination will show true selflessness.

Create a space where you restore trust and unity, and let Fano members choose a leader by consensus. Your action could mend fractures, restore the diaspora’s confidence, and cement your legacy as a unifier. Step back from contention. Let Fano unite and select its leaders. Serve in a role where Fano might assign you—writing, advocacy, diplomacy, and strategy—and use your fullest potential.
Leadership is not about being the face of a movement but ensuring the struggle (Fano) thrives. History has shown that authentic leadership is often from behind. Dick Cheney, from the vice presidency, shaped U.S. policy while Bush stood at the forefront. Fitawrari Habte Giyorgis Dinagde (Aba Mela) anchored Emperor Menelik, later guiding Queen Zewditu and Emperor Haile Selassie. Aklilu Habte-Wold served in the shadows before rising to prime minister. Even Meles Zenawi and Mengistu Hailemariam were not the initial faces of their movements.

You don’t need to be on the rural front lines to lead. Lenin led the Bolshevik Revolution from exile. Mandela shattered apartheid from a prison cell. As Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger overshadowed Nixon, wielding diplomacy as his greatest weapon. You, too, can leave an indelible mark, whether by forging alliances with figures like Marco Rubio, the newly appointed U.S. Secretary of State, or ensuring Fano’s struggle gains international legitimacy and support.

If you fear that the movement cannot survive without your direct leadership, remember that there are other leaders of equal caliber like you. Ethiopia has seen warriors like Belay Zeleke, Negus Michael, Ras Mekonnen, Amoraw Wubneh, and Meysaw Kassa rise to their time. Now, new leaders are emerging from the Amhara region, growing like mushrooms after the rain.

So I ask you: Why hold on to a position that risks dividing Fano unity, where unity for victory is the burning issue of the time? Why not act like the real mother and King Solomon and ensure the baby—Fano—remains whole?

The choice is yours, Eskinder. Your legacy and the future of the Amhara struggle rest on the wisdom you choose to embody in this critical hour.