From State Architects to Victims

This study critically examines the massacre and ethnic cleansing of the Amhara people in Ethiopia, utilizing a qualitative research methodology with a phenomenological design. It analyzes the impact of colonial narratives on the Amhara and the subsequent ethnicization of political discourse, which has culminated in the massacres of ethnic Amharas. The Italian invasion of Ethiopia not only sought to reframe the nation as a colonial entity but also propagated divisive rhetoric that positioned the Amhara as historical oppressors. This narrative was adopted by emerging ethnonationalist groups such as the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front ( eplf ), Tigray People’s Liberation Front ( tplf ), and Oromo People’s Liberation Front ( oplf ). The ascendance of the tplf to state power in 1991 provided an opportunity to implement these narratives against the Amhara. These colonial-era narratives continue to resonate today, particularly following 1991 when violence against the Amhara escalated dramatically due to the actions of ethnonationalist groups in Ethiopia. Being identified as “ethnic Amhara” has increasingly become synonymous with a death sentence, as evidenced by widespread reports of violence. The study emphasizes that these ongoing atrocities are not merely isolated incidents but rather part of a systematic campaign against the Amhara people, highlighting the urgent need for global awareness and intervention to address these human rights violations.