Ethiopia’s Failure to Build a Nation and National Identity

by Sirak Kifle

Ethiopia has failed to build a strong national identity—mainly because its leaders have relied on fabricated history instead of truth.

It’s not unusual for countries to create national heroes and legends during the nation-building process. European nations did this during their early development. However, a country cannot be built solely on lies and myths. This is one of the main problems Ethiopia faces today.

Ethiopian leaders and elites have convinced people that Ethiopia is a God-created nation that has existed for over 3,000 years. They twist biblical stories, claiming that Ethiopia is mentioned many times in the Bible. Some even say the Ethiopian Tewahedo Orthodox Church has existed for over 3,000 years – despite the fact that Christianity itself is only around 2,000 years old. But facts like these don’t seem to matter to Ethiopian leaders and elites.

Understanding the Formation of Modern Nations

Modern nations began to take shape in Europe in the 17th century, and most European countries were established in the 20th century. North and South American countries emerged in the 18th. 19th and 20th centuries.

People have lived on Earth for thousands of years, but modern nations are a relatively recent creation. There were quasi empires and all kinds of settlements before, but modern countries are not direct continuations of those empires or settlements.

For example, modern Italians don’t claim that the lands once ruled by the Roman Empire belong to Italy. As the French philosopher Voltaire said, the “Holy Roman Empire was neither holy, nor Roman, nor an empire.”

The same logic applies to Ethiopia. It was not created by God, nor was it always called Ethiopia, nor was it a unified country. Like other African nations, modern Ethiopia was shaped by European colonialism. The difference is that while the British had no lasting interest in occupying Ethiopia after their 1868 invasion, European involvement still played a role in shaping its modern form.

The Birth of Modern Ethiopia

Emperor Menelik II was king of Shewa from 1866 and became emperor of Abyssinia in 1889. Italy entered Eritrea in 1869 and formally established it as a colony in January 1st 1890.

Menelik didn’t have the ambition or power to challenge European powers. Between 1889 and 1904, he expanded his rule and formed what is now Ethiopia. This is well-documented history. Ethiopia in its present form was created in 1904, 14 years after the establishment of Eritrea.

By the time Menelik was expanding, the borders of most modern nations had already been drawn and recognized internationally. While he could have tried to expand toward the Red Sea or Indian Ocean, he didn’t. And none of his successors – Lij Iyasu, Emperor Haile Selassie, the Derg regime, or the EPRDF – were able to secure lasting sea ownership either by force or diplomacy. Nor will the current prime minister, despite his aggressive rhetoric.

Sea Access and Regional Reality

Ethiopian leaders must understand that the only way to gain access to the sea is through peaceful negotiation, and only for economic purposes. No country will willingly give up its sovereign land or coastline – not for free, and not under pressure.

Missed Opportunities for Nation-Building

None of Ethiopia’s leaders have truly worked to build a united national identity.

• Emperor Menelik II: likely didn’t understand the concept of a modern nation – it may have been too early.
• Lij Iyasu: never had a real chance to rule, let alone build a nation.
• Emperor Haile Selassie: humiliated by Italy’s invasion, invented the idea of a “Greater Ethiopia” that included Eritrea and Somalia. His ambition to absorb Eritrea led to his downfall.
• The Derg regime: followed in Haile Selassie’s footsteps, but was defeated by Eritrean forces without successfully building national unity.
• The EPRDF: had a real opportunity to form a modern Ethiopian identity – but they also failed.
• Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed: had a golden opportunity to unite the country, yet his reckless and immature leadership may instead lead to Ethiopia’s disintegration.

The Lesson

Ethiopia is becoming a textbook example of how myths and false history cannot build a nation or a shared identity. Real unity requires truth, inclusiveness, and a vision grounded in reality – not fantasy.