Habtamu Tegegne, an associate professor of history at Rutgers University, called for the murder of two prominent Ethiopian politicians and their descendants during a discussion on a media outlet run by the International Fano Coordinating Committee (IFCC).
Professor Tegegne’s remarks came during a discussion about the conflict involving Fano militants and the Ethiopian government in the Amhara region that began in April 2023. Tegegne specifically accused Lidetu Ayalew, an Ethiopian dissident in exile, and Gedu Andargachew, a former president of the Amhara Regional State, of conspiring to harm ethnic Amharas.
“I believe the blood of the Amhara is on their hands, not just on them but up to seven generations of their descendants,” Tegegne said.
Urgent Condemnation of Hate Speech
— Getachew G. Temare (@getachew_temare) October 22, 2024
1/5 To @RutgersNewark: I am writing to express my grave concern over a deeply disturbing media statement made by one of your employee, Associate Professor Habtamu Tegegn in this video, pic.twitter.com/bxa0Ei9DAN
Tegegne claimed Lidetu Ayalew’s property, as well as his relatives’ homes, was left undamaged by Tigray Defense Forces when they briefly occupied the town of Lalibela during the Tigray War.
“They [TDF] burned all properties in Lalibela except his. That is because he belongs to them,” Tegegne said.
He also accused Ayalew of sharing the same platform with individuals from other ethnic groups. Exiled in the U.S. since 2021, Ayalew has been hosting a series of online political discussions that invite elites from diverse backgrounds to deliberate on the crisis in Ethiopia.
Among those invited by Ayalew was Ezekiel Gebissa, a fellow Ethiopian professor of history at Kettering University. Tegegne claimed Gebissa is “a sworn enemy of the Amhara” and, along with others, “has dedicated his life to undermining the Amhara people.”
“How can an Amhara share a platform with individuals like him? How can someone attend such a meeting? How can you see eye to eye with these individuals?” Tegegne asked.
Tegegne also accused Gedu Andargachew of being responsible for the deaths and injuries of 500 youth from Bahirdar and Gondar and of continuing to conspire with forces that are “anti-Amhara.”
Tegegne similarly noted that none of Andargachew’s relatives have been harmed despite his alleged conspiracy to harm ethnic Amharas.
“This is because they hold us in contempt,” Tegegne said. “The blood of the Amhara is in the hands of both Lidetu and Gedu, up to seven generations of their descendants, on both their paternal and maternal sides.”
Rutgers University has not yet issued a public comment regarding Professor Tegegne’s remarks.