February 8, 2026
By Mesfin Yohannes Haile
War is a dark stain on human civilization—a source of unceasing agony and an abyss of destruction. In every place where the sound of bullets and cannons eventually falls silent, the memories that remain are not of victory, but of profound grief, mourning, and ruin. Schools, hospitals, and roads built over decades are reduced to ash in mere seconds. War does not solve problems; instead, it births new and complex cycles of evil.
Why is War So Devastating?
- Loss of Human Life: War is not a game of numbers; it is the destruction of souls. Every life lost carries a history, a waiting family, and a thousand unfulfilled dreams. The youth who perish were the pillars of the nation’s future.
- The Shattering of Social Fabric: War tears neighbor from neighbor and brother from brother. Love and trust built over generations are replaced overnight by hatred and suspicion. This leaves behind deep-rooted grudges that haunt generations.
- Irreparable Psychological Scars: Whether they are soldiers returning from the front lines or civilians caught in the crossfire, the internal trauma people carry cannot be easily healed. While physical wounds may be treated, the invisible scars of the mind (PTSD) remain a lifelong burden.
- Economic Collapse: At a time when citizens are crushed under the weight of the cost of living—where even buying a kilo of Teff has become a luxury—spending billions of dollars on weaponry makes one a culprit of history.
Ethiopia’s Current Reality: A Peace Call Under Threat!
Today, the clouds of war are once again gathering over Ethiopian skies. While ongoing conflicts in the Amhara, Oromia, and Tigray regions continue to bleed the country, the war of words and diplomatic tension with Eritrea has reached an extremely alarming level.
A Letter of Peace or a Prelude to War? The letter recently sent by the government to the Eritrean administration may appear on the surface to be an invitation for “peace and negotiation.” However, it carries a heavy undertone of war preparation. Many fear that this diplomatic maneuvering is not a genuine pursuit of peace, but rather a search for a pretext—a way to clear the path for the next round of bloodshed. History teaches us that military preparations disguised as peace initiatives only lead to carnage.
Why We Firmly Oppose War:
- Mass Slaughter: War is a stage where the children of the poor bleed and mothers lose their sons; it is not where the children of officials perish. As we have seen in the Russia-Ukraine war, once a conflict begins, its end date is unknown. We are witnessing millions displaced, countless innocents killed, and the global economy shaken. Ethiopia does not have the capacity to withstand such a prolonged conflict.
- Failure to Learn from History: Before the scars of the thirty-year war have even healed, plunging back into the fire is an act of generational destruction. The loss of youth and wealth over the past few years alone is something that cannot be replaced for decades.
- Economic Ruin: Our people, already suffering from hunger and hyper-inflation, do not have the shoulders to carry another war! The people demand bread, not the smoke of gunpowder.
What the Government Must Do:
The government must ensure that issues regarding the Port of Assab or border disputes are settled strictly at the negotiation table through calm diplomacy and a sincere desire for peace. The priority must be resolving internal conflicts through dialogue to create a country that is safe and secure for investors and tourists.
What the Ethiopian People Truly Want:
- Stability, not displacement!
- Good governance, not the drums of war!
- Development, not destruction!
Let us say “No” to war! Peace for Ethiopia! Peace for the Region!
Editor’s Note : Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com
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