opinion; by Ewnetu Smaw, 

There comes a time in every people’s history when they must stand up not only to external enemies, but also to betrayal from within. For Tigrayans, that moment is now. The recent conduct of Getachew Reda—erratic and unaccountable-former interim president of Tigray—has revealed not just political blunder, but a calculated attempt to manipulate, mislead, blackmail, criminalize, and ultimately weaken the very people and the very heroes he once claimed to defend. This is no longer a matter of political disagreement; it is a desperate rage fueled by frustration and a relentless thirst for power.  Getachew has made it painfully clear: he is willing to say anything, do anything, and destroy anything—even if it means serving Abiy Ahmed like a loyal servant to a tyrant king. Tragic. Deeply tragic. I never imagined that the thirst for power could twist a person so violently fueling such blinding rage, desperation, and moral decay.

At the heart of Getachew Reda’s betrayal lies an endless stream of lies—fabrications so transparent, so reckless, and so desperate, they insult the intelligence of every Tigrayan. In his most recent statements, delivered shamelessly through Abiy Ahmed’s propaganda machine, Getachew attempted to whitewash the genocidal crimes committed against Tigray. Rather than standing with his people to demand justice, he chose instead to become a revisionist historian—deliberately trying to erase the central role played by Abiy Ahmed and his regime in orchestrating the horrors that devastated Tigray. Now, it has become abundantly clear why he secretly conspired to release over 400 prisoners implicated in the genocidal war. It is no longer a mystery why he collaborated with the enemy to systematically erase all physical evidence of the atrocities—burned-out tanks, scorched vehicles, and the remnants of airstrikes. This was not a series of missteps, but a calculated effort by a man determined to shield war criminals and bury the truth in order to preserve Abiy Ahmed’s hold on power.

A Campaign of Disinformation and Power Lust

It is no secret that Getachew Reda has always been a canned talker, a master of the political spin. However, his recent conduct has grown increasingly erratic, characterized by reckless, irresponsible, and dangerous rhetoric, devoid of principle or truth. Having lost credibility among the people of Tigray, he now clings to narratives built on falsehoods and fueled by resentment.

His recent interviews reveal desperation and moral bankruptcy. Not once did he hold Abiy Ahmed accountable for orchestrating the invasion of Tigray by Eritrean forces—forces that carried out some of the most barbaric atrocities imaginable against innocent civilians. Instead, Getachew shamelessly shifted all blame onto Eritrea, effectively absolving the very man who financed, facilitated, and invited foreign troops to wage a genocidal war. This isn’t just a grotesque distortion of the truth—it is a flagrant act of betrayal against the people of Tigray.

One must ask: what kind of traitor grovels to wash the blood-soaked hands of Abiy Ahmed? Why does Getachew Reda bend over backwards to protect the architect of Tigray’s suffering—the man who waged war on our people, strangled humanitarian aid, unleashed rape and famine as weapons, and drowned our homeland in blood? The answer is as damning as it is clear: Getachew has no interest in Tigray’s liberation. His eyes are fixed on a future built on betrayal—hand in hand with the very butchers who tried to annihilate Tigray.

Why now? Where the hell was, he all these years? If there’s even a shred of truth in his words, why did he stay silent while money was stolen, human trafficking flourished, and gold was smuggled out of Tigray? Why was his obsession limited to fueling political scandals aimed at destroying TPLF, instead of holding the actual criminals accountable? It’s not just disappointing—it’s pathetic

Lies Without Evidence, Accusations Without Proof

In his rush to fabricate a new political reality, Getachew has turned to reckless accusations. He has thrown around charges without a shred of evidence—accusing individuals and critics of undermining peace or inciting division. This tactic is as old as tyranny itself: silence dissent by smearing it with lies.

But Tigrayans are not fools. They have suffered, endured, and survived one of the most horrific genocides of the 21st century. They know who their enemies are. They know who betrayed them. And they are watching.

What Getachew fails to understand is that no amount of lies, no matter how often repeated, can erase the memories of mass graves, displaced families, and shattered communities. He can try to twist the narrative, but the blood of Tigray’s martyrs and the suffering of the survivors speak louder than any boundless lies ever will.

A Puppet Who Outdoes His Masters

It’s a sickening irony that Getachew Reda, once seen as a voice of resistance, has now become an even bigger liar than Abiy Ahmed himself. While Abiy scrambles to justify his genocidal war, Getachew works overtime to whitewash it. Abiy uses Ethiopian state media to disguise mass murder as “law enforcement”—Getachew uses the same rotten platform to peddle shameless lies, all while the people of Tigray are still bleeding from the wounds of that very war.

Getachew has become a tragic symbol of political decay—an opportunist who has abandoned every moral and historical obligation to Tigray in exchange for personal survival. He is not just enabling injustice; he is helping to normalize it.

His propaganda is utterly worthless to the people of Tigray—hollow, self-serving drivel from a man who sold his soul for power and proximity to the very forces that tried to annihilate Tigray. This isn’t just political failure—it’s a moral collapse. His betrayal isn’t a matter of opinion; it’s carved into the collective memory of a wounded nation, etched in blood, lies, and disgrace. While mothers mourn their sons and the displaced suffer without justice or aid, he stands shoulder to shoulder with their tormentors, parroting their narrative like a loyal servant.

His ties with the people of Tigray are over. There is nothing left in his mind but the poison he shares with his master, Abiy Ahmed, behind closed doors. The people of Tigray may be patient, but they are not blind. Unless he makes a drastic and genuine turn, his name will go down in history not as a liberator, but as a traitor. And his legacy? It will rot in the same pit as the cowards who turned their backs on Tigray in her darkest hour.

The Cold, Brutal Truth

This is the cold, brutal truth: nothing good—absolutely nothing—is gained by aligning with Abiy Ahmed. There is no partnership, no favor, no future to be found in collusion with a man whose hands are soaked in the blood of Tigrayans. Anyone who chooses to stand with Abiy, who dares to believe that the people of Tigray will somehow benefit from bowing to their butcher, is not just mistaken—they are the worst kind of traitor.

There is no enemy more dangerous to Tigray than those who look their own people’s suffering in the eye and still side with the architect of that agony. This is not politics—it’s betrayal at its most vile. To believe that Tigray’s liberation, dignity, or survival can be secured through submission to Abiy Ahmed is not just delusional—it is criminal. Such thinking doesn’t just dishonor the martyrs—it spits on their graves.

History will remember those who stood firm. And it will never forgive those who sold out their people under the illusion of compromise with a genocidal regime.

Tigray will rise, unstoppable and unyielding, shining brighter than ever before—its brilliance fueled by the blood of its martyrs and the unbreakable spirit of its people. Over the coffins of its enemies, it will stand tall, a testament to resilience, defiance, and the enduring power of justice. The darkness they sought to impose will only fuel Tigray’s light, for no amount of violence or oppression can extinguish the fire of a people determined to reclaim their dignity, their sovereignty, and their future. The land of Tigray, stained with the sacrifices of its sons and daughters, will rise from the ashes, and its enemies will be but a footnote in the story of Tigray’s unstoppable march toward victory and justice.

Tigray’s Future Will Not Be Defined by Cowards

The people of Tigray have endured hell, and they are still standing. They are rebuilding their lives, preserving their dignity, and fighting for justice. That struggle will not be derailed by the lies of one desperate man.

No matter how loudly Getachew Reda shrieks or how shamelessly he peddles lies, the truth stands immovable and brutal: Tigray was invaded in a meticulously coordinated assault orchestrated by none other than Abiy Ahmed. Yes, Eritrean forces committed unspeakable atrocities—but let’s be clear—they were not rogue actors. They were invited, armed to the teeth, and bankrolled by the Ethiopian government. Any attempt to whitewash this grotesque reality is not just dishonest—it is morally bankrupt and complicit in war crimes.

Getachew’s grotesque betrayal of the truth insults every Tigrayan who watched their loved ones butchered, their homes reduced to rubble, their children starved by design, and their churches defiled by foreign troops. If he thinks Tigrayans will simply swallow this revisionist garbage and forget the faces of their killers—he is not only delusional, he is dangerous. History will not be rewritten by cowards and collaborators.

The Time for Accountability is Now

Tigray’s path to justice will never be carved by the forked tongues of liars—it will be forged through truth, sacrifice, and the unshakable will of a people who refuse to bow to fear or be silenced by deceit. No amount of political theater, gaslighting, or manufactured narratives can erase the blood that has been spilled or the crimes that have been committed.

Getachew Reda must be condemned—not just for his reckless words, but for the devastating, destabilizing consequences they carry. His lies are not harmless—they are Abiy Ahmed’s weapons. Stacking lies upon lies does not yield truth; it breeds betrayal, confusion, and chaos. And no matter how desperately he tries to bury the facts beneath distortion and propaganda, the people of Tigray remember. Every massacre. Every starvation. Every desecration. Nothing has been forgotten.

The people have spoken—and they will not be silenced. They will raise their voices in the streets, in the mountains, and in every corner of the homeland until justice is more than a promise—it is a lived reality. Getachew Reda may try to build his political survival on a foundation of treachery, but Tigray’s future will rise from the ashes—anchored in truth, driven by memory, and protected by the unbreakable resolve of its people.