Signs decorated with flowers and reading 'A New Beginning' in readiness for Abiy Ahmed's grand inauguration in Addis Ababa on 4 October held little reality even for his most determined supporters...

Abiy brings in a few opposition friends Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took diversity gender and religion as well as merit into account when he appointed his new 22-strong cabinet but nothing about it presages any major policy shifts...

Hopes that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's election victory alongside the country's falling economic growth and investment might prompt a serious bid to open negotiations with the Tigrayan leaders have been thwarted again...

The Tigrayans also claim that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has secretly contacted them for negotiations...

As the TDF fights the ENDF the rebellious Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) has opened a new front against the federal government in the south (AC Dispatches 16/8/21 A nightmare scenario for Premier Abiy Ahmed as regional opponents coordinate against the federal government)...

We hear that Abiy Ahmed is furious at the ENDF's lack of progress insisting on more assaults regardless of the cost...

President Mohamed Abdullah Mohamed 'Farmajo' flew to Addis Ababa on 3 October to attend the swearing-in of Abiy Ahmed as prime minister for another five years hoping that the Ethiopian leader could help him with his domestic problems sources in Mogadishu told Africa Confidential...

EscalationThe escalation of fighting followed Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's call on 10 August to mobilise all patriotic Ethiopians to defeat the rebels in Tigray...

One of their concerns was that the public support and demonstrations for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's national mobilisation campaign had not translated into more effective military...