War is the epitome of hell for all involved. I know because I

In the ancient annals of history, there are few experiences that have left a mark as deep and indelible as the experience of war. It is the darkest of human endeavors, where all that is noble and virtuous is often overwhelmed by suffering, loss, and destruction. Abiy Ahmed, the leader of Ethiopia, whose life and leadership have been shaped by the fires of conflict, spoke of this bitter truth when he declared, "War is the epitome of hell for all involved. I know because I have been there and back." These words, though simple, carry within them the weight of wisdom, the pain of experience, and the haunting recognition of the true cost of war.

War, as Abiy Ahmed states, is the epitome of hell—not just for those who are engaged in battle, but for every soul touched by it. The soldiers on the frontlines, the civilians caught in the crossfire, the families torn apart by grief—hell is not a distant concept but a lived reality for all who are drawn into the maelstrom of conflict. It is a world where humanity’s worst impulses are laid bare, where the bonds of society are shattered, and where the very essence of peace seems impossible to attain. The echoes of gunfire, the cries of the wounded, and the silence of the fallen form a landscape of suffering that no one can truly understand unless they have stood in its midst.

Abiy Ahmed's words are not born of theory or observation—they are forged in the crucible of personal experience. Having lived through the horrors of conflict, particularly in the context of the Tigray War in Ethiopia, Abiy has seen the ravages of war firsthand. His nation, once united, found itself torn apart by civil strife, and in the furnace of battle, Abiy himself was forced to grapple with the consequences of his decisions. His leadership, though focused on peace, was tested by the very forces of war that he sought to quell. In his words, we hear the profound truth that only those who have faced the fires of war can truly speak of its hellish nature.

Consider the history of World War I, a conflict that, in its scope and brutality, shattered the lives of millions. The trenches of the Western Front, where soldiers lived and died in the muck and filth of battle, provide a grim example of war's true nature. Soldiers, young and old, went to battle not just with weapons, but with the knowledge that they were marching into a hell of human creation, a place where life and death seemed to hang in a fragile balance. The war brought with it not only death, but profound psychological wounds, as soldiers were forced to witness the destruction of their fellow men, of their homes, and of their very souls. The pain of war is not just in the battles fought, but in the lives forever altered by its shadow.

In the context of Abiy Ahmed's Ethiopia, we see a more recent example of how war can tear apart the very fabric of a nation. The Tigray conflict, though rooted in political and ethnic tensions, quickly escalated into full-scale war, leaving behind a trail of destruction, a broken nation, and countless lives lost. The people of Ethiopia, much like the soldiers of other wars, were thrust into the abyss of violence and hatred. The stories of families displaced, of children orphaned, and of entire villages reduced to rubble serve as a reminder of the hellish nature of war—a reality that Abiy knows intimately. For those who have experienced such pain, the words "war is hell" are not a distant echo but a living truth.

What, then, can we learn from Abiy Ahmed's profound reflection? The lesson is clear: war is not a path to glory or honor; it is a path of suffering and sacrifice. Even when war seems unavoidable, we must recognize the deep human cost that accompanies it. The true heroes are not those who triumph in battle, but those who work to prevent conflict, those who strive for peace even when the world seems on the brink of destruction. Abiy Ahmed, through his experiences and his leadership, calls us to see war for what it truly is—a destructive force that leaves scars on the land and the heart.

So, in our own lives, let us take heed of this wisdom. When faced with conflict, whether personal or global, we must remember the toll that war takes on both the body and the soul. Let us seek dialogue, understanding, and reconciliation rather than conflict. In our own struggles, let us work toward solutions that build, rather than destroy, that heal rather than wound. In this, we will honor the true cost of war—the lives, the dreams, and the futures lost—and we will strive to create a world where peace prevails. For true victory lies not in battle, but in the strength to walk away from war, to choose a future built on compassion, understanding, and unity.