The fanfare around the high-profile visit to Addis Ababa does not hide that Ethiopia is grappling with severe internal turmoil under Abiy Ahmed’s rule. Armed insurgencies continue in Oromia and Amhara, and peace in Tigray remains fragile, with fears of renewed conflict. Human rights abuses and inter-communal violence persist, undermining stability and daily life far from diplomatic photo ops, and turning grand external engagements into distractions from pressing domestic crises.

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The fanfare around the high-profile visit to Addis Ababa does not hide that Ethiopia is grappling with severe internal turmoil under Abiy Ahmed’s rule. Armed insurgencies continue in Oromia and Amhara, and peace in Tigray remains fragile, with fears of renewed conflict. Human rights abuses and inter-communal violence persist, undermining stability and daily life far from diplomatic photo ops, and turning grand external engagements into distractions from pressing domestic crises.

Modi’s Ethiopia stop formed part of a broader regional tour, reflecting India’s push to expand its geopolitical footprint across West Asia and Africa. Anchored in millennia-old India–Ethiopia ties, the visit links historical legitimacy with present-day strategy. It positions New Delhi as a Global South power using diplomacy, trade routes and long-term partnerships to project influence, diversify alliances and shape regional connectivity beyond its immediate neighborhood.