Mereja.Forum

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s vision of MEGA—Making Ethiopia Great Again has been enthusiastically embraced by supporters within the Prosperity Party and its affiliated activists. However, a fundamental question remains unresolved: which Ethiopia is envisioned in this project of renewal? The ambiguity...

The gradual emergence of a centralized leadership within the Amhara national struggle is a notable political development. There is little dispute that the Fànnô movement represents a segment of the Amhara people’s quest for political freedom and democratic rights. However, for this movement to gain ...

t appears that after years of intense internal struggle, pro-Oromummà elites in Biltsigina are now gaining the upper hand. The shift comes after several years of political upheaval, much of it sparked by the Qérrô movement and the broader context of the 2018 political changes. At the time, Team Lamm...

In the early days of Ethiopia’s 2018 political transition, Jawar Mohammed made a poignant observation during an interview. To paraphrase, he stated: “The Habesha elites are trying to sow discord between the three of us—Jawar, Abiy, and Lemma—much like they did with figures like Baro Tumsa, Haile Fid...

In light of recent discussions surrounding the status of Finfinne, it has become clear that the time has come for significant political changes. The persistent opposition by some Amhara elites to the teaching and use of Afan Oromo in Finfinne, Ethiopia’s capital, demands decisive action. Rather than...

According to longstanding mythological traditions, all peoples inhabiting the Horn of Africa may be understood as Ethiopians—descendants of Ham, Kush, and Ethiop. These traditions maintain that Ethiop (Et’el) migrated from Canaan to the region, and that his descendants later spread across the contin...

n recent years, a notable shift has occurred within Oromo nationalist discourse. Whereas demands for full Oromian independence once dominated political debate, many Oromo elites now speak increasingly in favor of Ethiopian unity. This rhetorical change, however, raises a critical question: do all Or...

Oromummà—the collective political, cultural, and national consciousness of the Oromo people—has historically faced persistent opposition from multiple centers of power within the Ethiopian state. This article argues that three principal forces have obstructed the full realization of Oromummà and tha...

This article argues that the long-term democratization and stability of Ethiopia depend on elevating Oromic (Afaan Oromo) to the status of the country’s primary federal working language. It situates the language question within broader historical, political, and ideological struggles among Ethiopian...

rime Minister Abiy Ahmed frequently emphasizes the importance of “Ethiopia,” often framing his political project around national unity and territorial integrity. While this emphasis is widely presented as a commitment to stability, it raises a fundamental and unresolved question: which conception of...

A significant and ongoing debate within the Oromo community concerns the historical legacy of Emperor Menelik II. Was Menelik a national hero or a colonial ruler? Was he ethnically Oromo, and if so, what implications does this hold for Oromo historical consciousness? These questions have been addres...

The Agaw people constitute one of the oldest indigenous populations of the northern Ethiopian highlands and the Horn of Africa. Historically known as Agaw-Midir, their homeland encompasses large portions of what are today the Amhara and Tigray regions. Despite their foundational role in the region’s...

Despite the Oromo constituting the largest ethno-linguistic group in Ethiopia, Oromummaa and the Oromic (Afaan Oromo) language continue to occupy a subordinate position within the Ethiopian state. This paradox has persisted even under Oromo-led political leadership, most notably during the administr...

This article examines the historical, linguistic, and ideological foundations of Ethiopian identity through the lens of Oromo political thought. It argues that Ethiopia’s enduring identity crisis stems from the dominance of a singular national narrative—Amaranet—at the expense of Oromummà and other ...

Oromia is central to the Oromo identity and, through the idea of Oropia, Oromo nationalists are envisioning a future where the Oromo people not only shape their own destiny but also play a key role in determining the fate of Ethiopia. The Oromo people’s vision includes transforming Ethiopia from a h...

Ethiopia appears to be approaching a historic political inflection point, potentially transitioning from authoritarian rule toward democratic governance. Within this context, parallels have been drawn between Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed and F.W. de Klerk of South Africa, as well as between Dr. Lam...

The Habeshanized Oromô are described as having largely assimilated into Habesha culture and are often perceived as acting against Oromô political interests. The Hybridized Oromô are seen as culturally mixed and are viewed as supporting Oromô interests inconsistently. The Horomonized Oromô are charac...

In contemporary Oromo political discourse, affiliation with the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) or the Oromo People’s Democratic Organization (OPDO) can no longer be understood merely as organizational membership. Rather, these labels increasingly function as indicators of distinct political and psycho...

The Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) has historically pursued the liberation and political advancement of the Oromo people through three principal strategies: armed struggle, legal opposition politics, and strategic engagement with the ruling political establishment. At different historical moments, the...

This article examines the political trajectory and historical legacy of Dr. Abiy Ahmed within Ethiopia’s long-standing linguistic, ideological, and national contestations. It argues that his attempt to balance Oromo nationalism (Oromumma) and Amharic-centered state ideology (Amharanet) has resulted ...