Getachew Reda’s recent interview with Fana Broadcasting is not only disappointing but deeply troubling for anyone who has followed the tragic and complex trajectory of the Tigray crisis. His remarks, choices, and tone in the interview reveal not a statesman trying to lead a wounded region toward healing, but a man consumed by personal grievances, self-preservation, and historical revisionism.
1. A Personal Vendetta Masquerading as Political Analysis
One of the most disturbing aspects of Getachew’s interview is his apparent obsession with discrediting his former colleagues—many of whom played vital roles during Tigray’s darkest hours. Instead of acknowledging the sacrifices and efforts of countless individuals within the TPLF and the TDF, he singles out individuals for blame while conveniently exempting himself from meaningful accountability. This personal fire he seems to hold against former comrades undermines collective leadership and suggests a man driven more by resentment than responsibility. It’s one thing to critique failures; it’s another to wage a character assassination campaign against those who once stood beside you in defense of Tigray’s people.
2. The Hypocrisy of Appearing on Fana Broadcasting
The decision to sit down with Fana Broadcasting is more than controversial—it’s a betrayal. This is a media outlet that has, time and again, propagated dangerous hate speech, demonized the people of Tigray, and even called for the execution of Getachew himself, his family, and his political allies. Countless journalists, civilians, and political supporters have been targeted, imprisoned, or killed—directly influenced by the narratives pushed by Fana. For Getachew to give this media platform legitimacy through his presence is a slap in the face to all who suffered as a result of its propaganda. It is morally indefensible to validate the very institution that helped turn the nation against your people.
3. Blame-Shifting While Serving the Same Regime
Getachew’s repeated efforts to deflect blame onto his former colleagues while continuing to work under the very regime responsible for the war’s devastation is both hypocritical and deceptive. He aggressively points fingers at those who led alongside him, yet he remains complicit with the very system that orchestrated much of the suffering in Tigray. His attempts to lay the blame squarely on the Eritrean government are also disingenuous. While Eritrean troops did indeed commit unspeakable atrocities, Getachew conveniently omits the fact that his own superiors—notably the Prime Minister he now serves under—invited and enabled Eritrean forces to operate freely in Tigray, with full immunity. The implication is clear: his allegiance to power outweighs his commitment to truth.
4. Scapegoating TDF Soldiers While Avoiding Personal Responsibility
Equally disturbing is Getachew’s willingness to cast TDF soldiers as scapegoats for alleged wrongdoing. These are the same soldiers who followed his and his colleagues’ orders, defended their homeland against foreign invasion, and sacrificed everything. While he occasionally admits that mistakes were made under his leadership, he still finds ways to redirect blame to the very people who acted under his command. This two-faced approach—admitting involvement yet blaming others—reveals a troubling moral inconsistency. Leadership is about accepting full responsibility, not cherry-picking where guilt lies based on political convenience.
@BehiwotTilahun Is there the same identity even within Ethiopia? To be born from two people with different identity is normal incidence all overall the globe but this incidence can't make your father and mother to be merged into the same identity