In the latest spate of violence to hit Ethiopia scores died last weekend in brutal attacks on the outskirts of Addis Ababa. Tens of thousands have fled their vandalized homes and staying in churches and community centers due to what many described as barbaric acts that are not dished out to enemies let alone fellow citizens.

As the Ethiopian New Year gets into full swing it is incumbent on Ethiopians to commit themselves to working extra hard than the preceding year. Overseas-based political parties are returning from exile in droves having decided to pursue a peaceful political struggle.

Ethiopia’s very survival is always uppermost in the minds of Ethiopians. The nation’s survival may be laid on a solid foundation insofar as the shared interests and needs of the people enjoy equal protection.

Ethiopian culture is replete with traditional proverbs about life. These adages are used to encourage hard-working folks, laud do-gooders, motivatestragglers and chide wrong doers.

Ethiopia’s very survival is anchored in the prevalence of sustainable peace and democracy. These ideals cannot be realized just because its people say they want to; they require an unwavering commitment.

The type of tumultuous change Ethiopia is currently undergoing is bound to be fraught with grave challenges. Nonetheless, Ethiopians need to reflect seriously where they want their beloved nation is headed if lawlessness slowly sets in on account of the government’s inability to uphold the rule of law.

The horrendous events that transpired in eastern Ethiopia the previous weekend have grave political ramifications for the whole of Ethiopia. The mind-numbing killing, maiming and vandalizing of the properties of innocent compatriots in the Somali regional state constitute one of the darkest chapters in Ethiopia’s recent history.

A country which is not a nation of laws is bound to be riven by conflict. This is particularly true when the country happens to be in the midst of a political transition. Nowadays the constant headlines about conflicts, death and destruction in different parts of Ethiopia are unsettling its people.

A surefire way of extricating Ethiopia from the centuries-old quagmire it’s mired in is to develop a set of thinking befitting the times and is anchored in the national interest.

Ethiopia is presently undergoing a transition in its history the likes of which it has rarely experienced. Its citizens must contribute their share if the transition is to be peaceful, democratic and institutionalized.