“Time reveals everything.” Over the years, especially after the fall of TPLF and the rise of Abiy Ahmed, cracks began to appear in Sisay’s ideological armor. The first hints were subtle – less criticism of the new ruling party, more rationalization of its flaws. Slowly, the narrative changed. It was no longer about freedom, democracy, and justice; it was about defending a new regime that, ironically, began to adopt many of the repressive tactics of its predecessor.
This shift forced me to re-evaluate Sisay’s motivations. Was he truly against repression – or only against those who repressed him personally? The more I watched and listened, the more I became convinced that his fight was not rooted in principle but in personal experience. Sisay had been imprisoned under TPLF, and it seemed that his opposition to the regime was more about personal retaliation than a genuine commitment to democratic values.
This realization was painful. It felt like a betrayal – not just of his audience but of the ideals he once claimed to uphold. A true freedom fighter, one grounded in principles rather than personal vendetta, would never support a government that mirrors the very injustices he once fought.
A Mirror of What He Once Opposed
Today, under Abiy Ahmed’s regime, Ethiopia is witnessing the same – if not worse – levels of repression, surveillance, propaganda, and violence. Journalists are arrested. Opposition leaders are silenced. Civilians are massacred. And yet, Sisay remains largely silent. Worse, he appears complicit. The man who once boldly called out state abuse now rationalizes or completely ignores similar abuses – simply because they are carried out by a different actor.
Let us be clear: Abiy Ahmed’s government has committed atrocities that rival the worst of the TPLF era. The state has turned against its own citizens in places like Oromia and Amhara. And Sisay knows this. He is too intelligent, too informed, too seasoned to claim ignorance. Which brings us back to that haunting proverb: “If someone who is sleeping consciously wakes up, he will not hear.” Sisay is not unaware – he is choosing not to hear.
This is what makes his current position so dangerous. His silence is not due to lack of knowledge – it is willful. His platform, once a source of hope, now serves as a tool to justify silence, distract from suffering, and sanitize state propaganda.
A Cautionary Tale for All Who Claim to Fight for Freedom
Sisay Agena’s story is not just a personal fall from grace – it is a cautionary tale about the fragility of political integrity. It shows us how easy it is for individuals to cloak self-interest in the language of freedom. How many others who shout “liberty” today might remain quiet tomorrow, once they are on the inside of power?
If Sisay had truly been a freedom fighter, he would never stand beside Abiy Ahmed’s regime today. The difference between TPLF and Abiy’s Prosperity Party lies not in substance but in branding. The core tactics – centralized control, militarized suppression, silencing of dissent – remain painfully the same. Supporting one while condemning the other reveals not ideological evolution, but ideological bankruptcy.
It is time we stop idolizing voices simply because they once spoke the truth. We must demand consistency, accountability, and principle – especially from those who claim to speak for the people. The freedom movement in Ethiopia has suffered enough betrayal. We cannot afford to confuse political opportunism with political conviction.
As for Sisay Agena, the record is now clear. His journey – from confronting tyranny to enabling it – is complete. And in the process, he has transformed from a once-beloved freedom advocate into an active participant in the very silencing of those who still fight for freedom.