As Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed prepares for a major federal cabinet reshuffle, the political future of Alemitu Umot, President of the Gambella Regional State, hangs in the balance.
President Alemitu Omod
Once praised for restoring a measure of calm in a troubled region, her leadership is now widely viewed as fragile and risky, weighed down by rising ethnic tensions, worsening insecurity, and an increasingly strained relationship with the federal government.
What was once seen as firm leadership is today described by critics and insiders alike as erratic and confrontational.
Allegations of paranoia, intolerance toward dissent, and open defiance of federal authority have placed Alemitu at the center of a national debate about governance, accountability, and stability in Ethiopia’s regions.
The expected reshuffle, likely to take place during the upcoming parliamentary session, has brought her tenure under intense scrutiny. Some sources suggest that moving Alemitu to a federal post is being discussed.
However, many analysts see this not as a promotion, but as a tactical decision aimed at defusing the growing crisis in Gambella by removing her from a volatile regional setting she is worsening.
Tensions between her administration and Addis Ababa became public after her reported request to take custody of a list of political opponents based in the capital was firmly rejected.
Federal authorities reportedly demanded clear evidence and due process, signaling a refusal to be drawn into what they viewed as politically motivated actions rather than lawful procedures.
At the same time, concerns about Alemitu’s behavior behind closed doors have multiplied. Accounts from insiders describe a leader whose tone swings sharply from bold defiance to visible anxiety, leaving allies unsettled and opponents emboldened.
This unpredictability has raised serious questions about her ability to manage a region already burdened by historical grievances and deep divisions. Central to her political survival strategy has been the manipulation of ethnic narratives.
According to leaked accounts from senior meetings, Alemitu has been accused of reducing complex political disagreements to crude ethnic stereotypes, portraying her critics as paid opportunists while surrounding herself with loyalists and relatives.
These tactics have spilled into policy decisions with grave consequences. Her controversial move to bring close relatives into key regional positions was widely seen as an attempt to consolidate shrinking support and inflame fears of ethnic domination.
Instead of strengthening her position, the move backfired, triggering renewed violence in areas such as Abol, Itang, Tharpaam, and Gambella city.
The clashes that claimed several lives, left many injured, and reopened painful memories of the border-related conflicts between 2016 and 2024 that displaced thousands.
As her grip on power weakens, Alemitu is now alleged to be considering proxy actions against political opponents who have sought refuge in Addis Ababa. If true, this would mark a dangerous escalation, one that risks exporting Gambella’s instability to the national capital.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed now faces a critical decision. He can opt for a calculated reshuffle that moves Alemitu out of Gambella as a short-term damage-control measure, or he can remove her entirely, sending a stronger message that federal governance is guided by institutions, rule of law, and stability, not personal rivalries or ethnic brinkmanship.
The choice he makes will resonate far beyond Gambella, shaping the future of center–region relations in Ethiopia.
This article is authored by Pam Chuol Joack, a scholar and analyst specializing in Gambella affairs.
