By D.r Haile Arefayne

Over the past several years, Ethiopia’s geopolitical alignment has shifted significantly, with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) emerging as one of its closest partners in the Gulf. This relationship, which deepened during the Trump administration—an era that prioritized U.S. alliances with Gulf states—has had profound implications for Ethiopia’s internal dynamics, particularly under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

The UAE’s growing influence in Ethiopia is visible in several domains, most notably urban development, infrastructure, and land acquisition. In Addis Ababa, the government’s “reconstruction” agenda—allocating 40% of city plans to urban redevelopment, another 40% to roads, and only 20% to historical landmarks—has led to widespread displacement and economic disempowerment, particularly targeting communities like the Tegaru and other marginalized groups. This urban plan, framed as modernization, appears to mask an effort to re-engineer the capital’s social and economic landscape in favor of politically aligned and foreign-backed interests.

In Western Tigray, the leasing and transfer of land—reportedly influenced by UAE-backed interests—has escalated tensions and added a foreign dimension to what was already a deeply rooted territorial and ethnic conflict. The economic marginalization of Tigrayans is further deepened by what critics describe as targeted economic warfare: blocking access to gas, banking services, and telecommunications in Tigray and Tigrayan-populated areas.

Furthermore, the government has applied increasing legal and financial pressure on the TPLF (Tigray People’s Liberation Front), aiming to cancel its registration as a political party and cutting off its access to national political platforms. By tightening the economic noose around the region, the federal administration appears to be attempting to weaken the TPLF’s capacity to operate and survive politically and economically.

These policies create severe hardship for the public at large, not only in Tigray but across Ethiopia. The nation’s debt burden has grown due to unchecked borrowing for grand infrastructure projects, often with opaque deals involving foreign entities. These loans, rather than benefiting the broader economy, have placed undue pressure on the average Ethiopian and increased the country’s dependency on Gulf investors who may prioritize strategic influence over equitable development.

Now more than ever, we need the support of the international community. Silence enables impunity. The world must place pressure on the Ethiopian government and its foreign allies to halt destructive policies and prevent a return to full-scale war. Diplomatic action, economic accountability, and sustained attention are essential to ensuring that peace, justice, and inclusive development prevail over militarism and manipulation.