All struggles have agony, pain and injury. And unless one struggles one cannot overcome problems, humiliation and poverty and cannot be considered a wholesome human being. To ask for one’s rights might cost one’s own life. The revolutionary chooses death than remaining subhuman. Oromo are having too much agony, abuses, contempt and humiliation rooted in nafxanyaa colonial system of 19th century. They have had this experience for more than 150 years. That is why they were forced to live a life full of pain, misery, dehumanizing and depressing. It is such a life that forces continuation of the struggle, not war mongering of individuals or groups or too much comfort or over satisfaction. Now it is the 21st century, but they are in a condition imposed on them in the 19th century. The Old-World Order was not friendly for them. Peace and tranquility are assumed to be the desire of all human beings. Peace reigns only when there are partners that adore peace. The enemy from the beginning as a tactic to keep its dominance had denied the Oromo birth right, political, economic and social life, and impoverished them by controlling their land, resources and labor. For many years they were held with contempt as inferiors, disparaging them with denigrating name callings. That is why they started the liberation movement in the 60s to restore their rights, freedom and the human dignity they lost during the Scramble for Africa. The skin color and geographical proximity of colonial motherland had deceived many for a long time to call their relations colonial and the colonizer to hide its true face.
Descendants of the enemy saw the Oromo in such conditions and therefore they thought the country and the people were created to serve them. Instead of correcting their fathers’ wrong doings they would rather become harsher than them. They were surprised at the Oromo resistance which they though they have paralyzed enough. Emperor Minilik’s proclamation that rules “You should not kill any human being even if it was a gaallaa” showed that for them Oromo being a human being was doubtful. Even staying alive depends on their will. Still, the invader was not held responsible for the genocide they committed on them reducing Oromo population into half. Amaaraa offsprings are bragging “Who will move us from the land our fathers had inherited us after breaking their bones and spilling their blood?”. But they never mention that to subdue them they have gone to their home and broken so many bones and spilt blood like deluge; and how many people have they evicted? They have dehumanized and humiliated the Oromo by practicing on them hunting like wild animals, the neck, tongue, breast and the limb cutting they subjected the Oromo to; here it is enough to mention those, for it is not the purpose of this article to expose all the physical and mental atrocities. But descendants of the oppressors are not helping the oppressed to forget all they did to them. The Oromo are focused only on breaking the colonial shackles and restore their national identity and human dignity, not bent for retaliation which could destroy peace and tranquility of the region.
The political, economic and social reforms that their colonial leaders claim to have made in the last fifty years was either lies or only a whitewash and cannot respond to Oromo question. It is only razing the Oromo so that empire created by the nafxanyaa system is not challenged by them staying the majority in the region. All forces of reaction had come, changing tactics from generation
to generation to distract from genuine demands of the oppressed. For instance, land issues have started to shake the system. For this reason, the land reform proclamation transferred ownership from individual to nafxanyaa colonial government. For the time being peasant had jubilated for removal of landlords from their back. But the eviction of peasants from their ancestral under villagization and selling to investors and giving land to favorites running dogs came later. Let alone asking forgiveness and paying compensation for the harm inflicted at present and the past hundreds of years, they were not even willing to recognize that the land belongs to the Oromo. Oromo are not Ethiopians; they were added to them as unequal subhumans by force of arms. To talk as equals the Oromo must return to the independence status they had before colonization and the enemy must stop denying historical facts. It will be only after that they can discuss their future relations. It is only waiting for time for land to return to the rightful owners. Because the time arrived that the oppressed like the Oromo started rebelling from all corners. The present chaotic situation was created by it. Henceforth, there shall be no return to the past. All must be saved from this cruel era and bring peace and tranquility through dialogue. People want peace and reconciliation to feed themselves and to bring up their offsprings but for self-interested anti-Oromo peace disturbing leaders.
Oromo struggle is anti-colonial, and their nationalism is of liberation. Oromo had never said we are superior to anyone. True to the Gada culture and laws, they believe that all human beings have equal rights. One that coordinated the colonial campaign before 150 years was Minilik the Amaaraa with green light from Yohannis the Tigraaway. Present Amaaraa elites deny this and are trying to create distorted story. In later days the empire fell under the Tigraaway TPLF/EPRDF. It also tried to save the empire from falling. However, the guide it created “People’s Democratic Organizations (PDOs)” was overthrown. PDOs were molded from Amaaraa, Oromo and Peoples of the South. They chose as their leader a man from Gomma, Abiy who was recruited into the fake Oromo organization OPDO as a teenager. Because he takes claiming Oromummaa further will denigrate the nation he shortly dismantled PDOs and EPRDF and replaced them by Prosperity Party (PP). As long as he maintains Ethiopia, it does not make difference for others, except for Oromo and Tigaruu. Members of PP were not organizations like EPRDF but individuals. This was to run away from the constitutional, “We the nations, nationalities and peoples …. “
Though there was constitution their chief Abiy started to rule according to Habashaa tradition as dictator though conducting fake election. He bragged to return Ethiopia to her ancient height. The only height known is when she colonized Oromiyaa and her neighbors. He wishes to return history backwards. What is new about the present government is that unusually many afaan Oromo speaking persons are recruited though they are not in the majority as aliens want talk about. They know that did not save the Oromo from imprisonment, exile, kidnapping and killings. Those that hate the Oromo and Oromo naive are taking PP as Oromo government. They forget the Amaaraa ADP and ADIN and majority of others in the rank of PP’s administration. They did not say Haayila Sillaasee and Mangistuu government is Oromo because their betrayal of the Oromo was absolute, in name and practice. Nowadays the word “Baalagize” never misses in all Amharic speaking persons even extending to Oromo beggars.
As we have seen the root of present government of the empire of Ethiopia starts from what the enemy says, “Oromo People’s Democratic Organization, OPDO” and molded it. It was made by TPLF in Tigray for the purpose of sabotaging Oromo struggle lead by the OLF. Though it is an enemy with its creator, TPLF at present, it did not forget the objective for which it was created but was wriggling to replace it. Impersonating Oromo, it is deploying the unconscious Oromo which can easily be baited to destroying the Oromo more than the Ethiopian that created it. Amaaraa that are not fooled by PP, are choking it to take back the leadership of the empire he usurped. They only want to replace Abiy not to change the empire system. The aim of Oromo independence struggle is to remove the Ethiopian domination peacefully around a negotiation table or by force and establish independent republic Oromiyaa. If OLA OLF picks up allies “saying enemy of my enemy is my friend”, it could be empowering unintentionally Ethiopian colonialist again. Allies could only be those that accept the right of nations to national self-determination up to and including independence. Others like PP may consider even rights given by the constitution are too much and want to erase them.
Organized Oromo struggle started more than fifty years ago with clear political program to decolonized Oromiyaa. Freedom fighters should reexamine their journey and see how much did they fulfilled and what are the challenges ahead? They should not despair if much is not fulfilled, and much agony is caused because they are fighting against so many powerful interests. They hold a genuine cause, and victory will surely come with payoffs. The founding fathers of the liberation front were those that were there starting from the initial era of Pan-Africanism. However, be it strong Pan-Africanism or regional unity they believed that they must cleanse their country from the negative conditions of colonialism. Those who do not know the history of relations between Oromiyaa and Abyssinia later Ethiopia, may take mistakenly that the Oromo are an ethnic piece of Ethiopia. But they were independent people, with their own country, history, language and culture and an indigenous original African democracy, the Gadaa system. The kingdom of Ethiopia has tried to assimilate them by depriving them their culture, language and in short, their identity. All governments up to this day had tried to reduce their population by genocide and assimilation. But these are few of the populous peoples of Africa that remain the majority in the region against enemy’s wish. However, they are still struggling for their independence and control their economy and labor that is being exploited for enemy use, while they are impoverished.
The root of the present government of Ethiopia, PP, is what the TPLF molded from Ethiopian war captives and created as, “Oromoo Peoples Democratic Organization (OPDO)” to be obstacle for liberation movement lead by OLF. OPDO is an updated “Goobana” model. Therefore, it is being guided by policies of colonial fathers. Except for individual power mongering, PP and all Abyssinian political forces have similar ideology of restoring Ethiopia to the highest glory she had in the past. It is possible that there are Oromo in OPDO, but OPDO as organization can never be Oromo. OPDO posing as Oromo, has mobilized politically unawaken Oromo that follow when one shows them bait and is massacring more Oromo than its creator. The enemy used OPDO like the Trojan Horse which when the body is opened bogymen flow out of it. Had there not been OLA OLF Oromummaa could not be around even by name. The youth became aware of it and took the mountains before
getting disarmed. OPDO/PP and others that are against the dismantling the empire seem to have adopted Darg’s slogan “One Ethiopia or Death”. They do not want to change the colonial empire system but to replace Abiy as head of the empire. Horn of Africa can get peace and stability only if the empire is dismantled and when African peoples under it are set free, realize their right of self-determination and treat each other as equals.
Unless he is removed from the scene, Abiy, will never abandon his mother’s dream of being the king of Ethiopia. All his agendas lead to this end. Oromo elderlies failing from learning lessons from history of the empire and PP are seen walking into the snare he laid down. Though their conference is planned and financed by the PP they might have come out of it with their own program but with their condition and under Abiy it seems unlikely. The initial objective of the independence struggle, if they believe in it or not, was to peacefully resolve conflicts around a negotiation table or if that fails wage armed struggle to remove Ethiopian domination and establish Democratic Republic Oromiyaa. That only was believed to give assurance for Oromo freedom. However, they love Ethiopia for whatever reason, Ethiopia does not love and trust them. Still, they think they can use the “Gobana model” and lure the Oromo to follow them. Unless one lacks determination and commitment, one knows that the colonizer is not credible and traitorous to trust it. It was OLF’s permanent policy that it must be conducted only in the presence of third parties in a neutral venue drawn from experience, which at least one among them knew this. Amnesty is possible when one is under duress not negotiation. Even children do not accept sitting under oppressor and running reconciliation with it. The slave can ask for mercy not to negotiate for one’s freedom from the master unless one has a force to back one. People in the two positions have different goals, they can sometimes be adversaries.
The recent conference of elderly Oromo, their parties being registered Ethiopian parties was legal. From the expense it costs, and the delegates selected to gather and the manner it was permitted to assemble for many did not seem the work of “Dawuud’s OLF and Mararaa’s OFC” parties. To confuse this possibility Abiy loyalists, Caffee Oromiyaa and what some call “Hilton OLF”, immediately protested. Points suggested by the conference were not in contradiction of Ethiopian constitution but probably had procedurally problem. There was cacophony against it from Amharic speaking individuals and media as some popping up in Oromo camp as well. OLA OLF has also given statements on its for its name being mentioned without its knowledge. The elderlies have forwarded an agenda which requires force for implementation. But force is not in “Peace Struggle’s” arsenal. Therefore, it becomes what the flea said, “Cup me on the butt so that others say she died saying that”. Or is there other sinister motive against Oromo armed struggle? Could it be PP wanting to humiliate these respected elderly people? Problem with some Oromo leaders is that they do not have firm stand on what they want for their country, Oromiyaa. Because they compromise strategies for tactics, they miss the goal they promised for their people. They brag about being offsprings of Abbaa Gadaa. But instead of Gadaa democratic principles they follow their colonizers authoritarian practices. Principles like Hiriyaa, limited stay in power, supremacy of the law, ilaa fi Ilaamee (dialogue), consensus are abandoned. The stage of Gadamoojjii, Yuba and Luba are mixed up.
There is rumor from PP camp that OLA OLF is creating alliance with Ethiopian (Amaaraa and Tigraaway) rebel organizations. Were they scared of it? Do they know that they are crossing the red
line for many? OLA OLF is a political and military organization with different structures. There is a division of labor between political offices and military establishment. The first one is not limited geographically in its function. However, OLA OLF’s HQ is in the field, it has unified leadership and efficient and effective communication as told. Let alone an outsider there are operations which members of the leadership might know. There is nothing wrong with making an alliance with anyone but with caution. OLA OLF may not take indiscriminately the adage “friend of my enemy is my friend” for that could mean unintentionally empowering colonizers who do not accept even in principle, the right of nations to national self-determination. Rather, it will work hard for PP to fall with the colonial empire. This conference gave OLA the chance of becoming Oromiyaa Police Force probably without asking its consent. This shows that the target of the conference was how to calm down, isolate and disarm OLA. Otherwise, PP never wants to listen about transitional arrangement as long as it exists. It permitted it probably to scare Caffee Oromiyaa.
Several of the knowledgeable are saying a new world order is replacing the old one. Human intellect is developing continuously. Technology develops faster than cultural ones. In a class-divided society only the few wealthy take advantage of this technological change. Technology could lay off many workers. Unless priorly it is thought how to share out for society the benefit of such a development, the next change would be devastating. Each new generation is not exactly the copy of the previous one but has the genes for continuity of identity. It is wise to expect differences in practice and character. It is recognizing this that the five Oromo Gadaa are given different characters like, rain, draught, war, abandons etc. It is a must that oppressed people decolonize themselves. It is long time since Oromo started trying to dismantle the empire. Declaration of land reform, unification of Oromo country that was torn apart, all people starting to learn and work with own language etc.is part of the dismantling agenda. Anti-colonial resistance that started in every corner horrified descendant of those that formed the empire. Dictators rose to put rein on this. Their campaign of condemning people’s liberation movements as clan based, bore no fruit; so they started to organize themselves on parish level. Because those that lead their empire did not fulfil their desire, they shunned the name they have in common and chose that of parishes. Whether they tried this or that no one can save the empire from destruction.
When the old decays that a new one sprout from underneath is nature’s order, journey of truth. Those who have the truth are always victorious whatever time it takes. Even if they see that the empire is decaying colonial descendants refuse to swallow it. At the end they will be the once hurting denying the truth while that of Oromo will relatively be minor. Ethiopia is wobbling tooth; it cannot be fixed to original condition. They blame others for destruction of Ethiopia, failing to observe that it has started declining because the weight of its wrongdoings became unbearable. Already, like builders of scaffold of Arrojii or Babilon the top and the bottom had failed to communicate and that lead to its downfall as told. It will be better to be prepared to create understanding, so that after the fall more disasters may not come. Peoples’ future must become that of peace, and tranquility, justice, equality and freedom. Oromo does not transgress on other’s rights; they have Safuu (ethical standard) not to subordinate anyone. They accept that all human beings have equal rights, and that all have the right of national self-determination.
To conclude our message, Oromo one of the most industrious and productive peoples remain deprived of their sovereignty, their land and resources. Though many changes are taking place in the world those concerned are not paying attention to their plight. Descendants of those who mobilized the colonial nafxanyaa army, are not yet changing their mentality remanent of the 19th century. Now they know that they cannot mobilize, exploit Oromoo resources, dehumanize them, make Oromo serf and them landlord, being slave and master as before. Then, have they ever asked themselves why should blood of millions be spilt for unproductive results? And resources that could have improved the lives of millions of their impoverished kins be destroyed? Don’t they think that people want life filled with peace and tranquility for the present and future generation and eternal rest for forebears? They talk of their kins living scattered in Oromiyaa; if they are willing, they can live as Oromiyaan respecting the country’s laws. It is Oromo Gadaa tradition that nobody can hold them responsible for crime their forebears committed. If sane, they must struggle for peace, freedom, equality, and justice. Their adamant outlook is going to affect world peace, the world that realizes the consequence of its present negligence later. All have heard, the Oromo, whose minds are not polluted by colonial culture, come from background of egalitarian society, democratic and believe in Safuu (ethical standard). Before old grudges flash back and make it more painful it would be better if we started talking and solving conflict between them all. As inhabitants of the region and as people of Africa all must be equal and independent and voluntarily interdependent. It was the imbalance of this scale that created animosity between them. For Oromo more than with Ethiopia with whom they had grudges it will be Africanness that brings them closer. If Africanness is accepted all people are equal, have equal rights and definite surroundings given by nature. If agreed on this, they can discipline their unruly and teach their uneducated in common and respect each other’s mutual interests. Except for deviants, Africans culturally love the truth. In all peoples’ cultures, courage, truth and law are superiorly respected. Though faiths in the present world officially abhor lying, for significant numbers of people truths never come to their mouth even by mistake. Therefore, let us go back to African tradition and try to be truthful at least Oromo among ourselves. Oromiyaan haa jiraattu!
Honor and glory for the fallen heroines and heroes; liberty, equality, and freedom for the living and nagaa and araaraa for the Ayyaanaa of our fore parents!
Ibsaa Guutama
March 2025