Ginbot 7

Ginbot 7 (ግንቦት 7), also known as Patriotic Ginbot 7 Movement for Unity and Democracy, was an Ethiopian political organization and armed group. It was founded in 2008 by Berhanu Nega, an Ethiopian professor who was elected mayor of Addis Ababa in the controversial 2005 Ethiopian general election but was subsequently imprisoned and exiled.

The group’s stated aims included the removal of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) government, which it accused of authoritarianism, corruption, and human rights abuses. Ginbot 7 advocated for a more democratic and inclusive Ethiopia, emphasizing unity and good governance.

Initially based in Eritrea, Ginbot 7 engaged in armed resistance against the Ethiopian government. They claimed responsibility for several attacks within Ethiopia, although the extent of their military capabilities was debated. The Ethiopian government considered Ginbot 7 a terrorist organization and took measures to suppress its activities.

In 2018, following the election of Abiy Ahmed as Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Ginbot 7 renounced armed struggle and returned to Ethiopia. The organization was removed from the list of terrorist organizations, and its leaders, including Berhanu Nega, were granted amnesty. Ginbot 7 subsequently transformed into a political party called "Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice" (Ezema) and participated in the 2021 Ethiopian general election.