Guns, Corridors, and Corruption: How Abiy’s Government Bleeds Ethiopia Dry.

Commentary by Muluken Tekleyohanes
For Ambassador Media

Once again, the Ethiopian government is pointing its finger at others to mask its own destructive priorities. The Financial Intelligence Service (FIS) has announced the freezing of 138 bank accounts, accusing the owners of “illegal foreign currency activities.” The official story is that this is part of a crackdown on parallel market transactions.

But the truth is far uglier. Ordinary citizens know that when FIS or NISS calls, it is often not about justice — it is about intimidation. There are countless reports of individuals being summoned, threatened, and pressured to “settle” their situation with bribes. Under this government, enforcement has become just another revenue stream for corrupt officials, not a tool for public service.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his administration are masters at creating fear among the people. Instead of addressing the structural collapse of Ethiopia’s economy, they unleash their security organs — FIS, NISS, police — to harass traders, entrepreneurs, and even the diaspora community. These agencies pretend to be guardians of legality, but their methods are pure extortion.

Meanwhile, the real thieves sit in the highest offices. While the people are squeezed for every birr and dollar, the government spends billions on weapons for war, fueling conflict after conflict. It throws money into vanity projects like the “Chaka” development and flashy “corridor” schemes, which bring no real benefit to the struggling majority. These are not investments in Ethiopia’s future — they are monuments to the regime’s arrogance.

The foreign currency crisis is not caused by ordinary Ethiopians buying or selling a few hundred dollars on the side. It is caused by the government’s endless appetite for war, its reckless spending on unnecessary projects, and its total failure to build a productive economy.

Freezing bank accounts, threatening citizens, and shaking them down for bribes will not save Ethiopia. The real criminals are in power — and until they are held accountable, the crisis will only deepen.