Justice ‘Absurdistan’ style: ‘Twit’ your death!
Absurdity in the Federal Democratic Republic of “Absurdistan”—also known as Ethiopia—is no anomaly; it is the norm. And nowhere is this more evident than in the grotesque parody that is the justice system. In “less absurd states,” the security of every citizen is treated as an inalienable right. In Absurdistan, it is a luxury—selectively granted, often denied.
Take the case of the slain Samuel Awoke, etched vividly in my mind.
He cried out for help.
He cried out for justice.
He showed the world his wounds—live, public, documented—for all to see on social media.
And what did the justice system do?
One would expect—again, in “less absurd states”—that a citizen publicly assaulted by ‘unknown’ hooligans would receive protection. That his attackers would be tracked down. That justice would be served swiftly.
But this is Absurdistan.
You cry for justice when you’re threatened—no justice.
You cry for justice when you’re beaten—no justice.
You cry for justice and post your injuries on Facebook—no justice.
You call for protection—no justice.
You shout through the media for help—no justice.
Then, you are murdered by the same “unknown” hooligans—and still, no justice.
If, after all this, the perpetrators are not apprehended and justice remains elusive, one begins to wonder: is the official in charge of public safety perhaps only upset that the victim failed to tweet his own murder live—so they could watch, follow, or retweet it?
Absurd?
Well… we are in Absurdistan.
The Roman historian Tacitus, in The Annals, chronicled the decay of Roman justice—how crimes thrived not only through the villainy of a few, but through the indifference of many. He wrote:
“A shocking crime was committed on the unscrupulous initiative of a few individuals, with the blessing of more, and amid the passive acquiescence of all.”
If Tacitus were alive today and witnessed Ethiopia’s “voluntary lapses” in justice, would he have said anything different?
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