his work as human rights activist figures in prominently in his advocacy for freedom of the press, worship, conscience, and association. he also advocated for release of judge birtukan mideksa, leader of unity for democracy and justice, the major opposition party in ethiopia, against the rise of authoritarianism, and his critique of the ethiopian national security and foreign policy in many of his writings. he was nominated for the lorenzo natali prize for excellence in reporting on human rights for the year 2009 for his ethiopia: on forgiveness, reconciliation, and pardon, an article published in "sudan tribune".