The Two Contradictory Forces in OPP: OLF’s Mindset of Sovereignty vs. OPDO’s Mindset of Servitude
By Fayyis Oromia*
Dr. Abiy’s OPP is marked by an internal struggle between two forces: those with the OLF’s mindset of sovereignty and those with the OPDO’s mindset of servitude. The former are gradually pushing for the freedom and sovereignty of the Oromo people, while the latter remain willing to serve Habesha masters—whether from Amhara or Tigray elites.
It is especially interesting to observe how those with the OLF mindset promote Oromiffa/Oromummaa, whereas those with the OPDO mindset strive to maintain the dominance of Amharanet/Amarigna. This internal conflict continues to shape the direction of the party.
For the OLF’s sovereignty mindset to prevail, genuine Oromo nationalists must enter and take over the OPP, displacing the remnants of the OPDO. Entering and owning OPP and its structures should be a primary objective for the OLF. This strategy is more effective than solely engaging in opposition through OFC or armed struggle via OLA. OLF supporters must seek to infiltrate OPP in order to purge the remaining OPDO loyalists and shift the party’s direction toward true Oromo liberation.
The Oromo people must prioritize dismantling the OPDO component within Dr. Abiy’s OPP in order to elevate its OLF-aligned faction and complete the national freedom struggle.
Post-TPLF Dynamics and Oromo Political Strategy
It is good that the era of Tigrayan hegemonists has come to an end. We hope the Amhara Naftagna elites will not reclaim control of the palace. Then, Oromo republicans with the OLF’s mindset of freedom can confront the ruling Oromo prosperitans still harboring the OPDO’s mindset of servitude. Dr. Abiy’s OPP, with its servile mindset, has merely changed its allegiance—from serving the TPLF to now serving the ANDM.
As long as Amharanet and Amarigna dominate the palace and federal institutions, OPP remains a tool of APP. That is why Dr. Abiy and his Prosperity Party loyalists can be said to still operate under the OPDO’s servitude mindset. For the Oromo to achieve genuine freedom, this bloc must be replaced by republican Oromos with a sovereignty mindset. Elites with this freedom orientation—whether from OLF, OFC, or even progressive elements within OPP—must unite to challenge the servitude faction.
No matter how long it takes, the sovereignty mindset will ultimately prevail over the servitude mindset.
Toward an Inclusive and Democratic Ethiopia
To change the current rule of Dr. Abiy’s EPP, there is no alternative to forging a strong, inclusive opposition party, alliance, or coalition composed of all genuine democratic forces. The key question is: Can these forces unite and challenge the EPP in the upcoming election, or will they remain fragmented and hand the incumbent another five-year term?
A strong opposition is essential for furthering Ethiopia’s democratization. It is time for Oromo republicans with the OLF’s freedom mindset to unify and establish a strong Oromo Republican Party (ORP) to counter the ruling Oromo prosperitans who carry the OPDO’s servile ideology.
Revisiting Zenawi’s “Dominant Party Democracy”
Obbo Leenco Lata once wrote about Meles Zenawi’s political vision—what he called “dominant party democracy”—a concept where a single party or coalition indefinitely wins elections to lead a developmental state. According to Lata, this vision was heavily influenced by Samuel Huntington and was implemented by the TPLF since the early 1990s.
Lata wrote:
“… The Ethiopian peoples had no role whatsoever in selecting the TPLF to become the dominant party that should indefinitely rule them. That this choice was made by a foreign scholar speaks volumes about the system’s democratic credentials. Ethiopians still lack the basic right to elect a government into and out of office.”
He compared this system to Hobbes’ concept of a “monarch of the group,” where a dominant party monopolizes power while still forcing society to participate in meaningless electoral rituals.
In such a system, domination and democracy are irreconcilable, and the struggle between the two will unfold both within the party and across the wider society. The only path to democratization is for democracy to prevail over domination inside the dominant party itself.
Lessons from the 2010 Election and Medrek’s Role
After the 2010 “landslide” victory, the TPLF-led party clearly fit the model of a dominant party. Despite promising a “development and transformation” plan, the opposition and the public largely saw through the empty rhetoric.
Medrek, as the “legal” form of PAFD at home, initially received critical support due to hopes it might lead civil disobedience after election fraud. But its co-optation—potentially as an “Oromo appeaser” or a programmed loser in elections—raised valid concerns.
Was Medrek created to serve indefinitely as the junior partner to a dominant party that always wins? Some Oromo nationalists have suspected just that.
A Lasting Solution: National Self-Determination and Multinational Union
The way forward lies in adopting the OLF’s enduring vision: national self-determination and a multinational union. Efforts to restore a unitary state are outdated. While democratic ethnic federalism may offer a temporary fix, it is not a lasting solution. The demand for true self-determination among oppressed nations will persist.
We must focus not on land and maps, but on people. Politicians must be ready to die for the people, not for maps. Borders can change; land cannot be separated—but people will continue to live together under many political arrangements. Whether in a unitary state, a true ethno-federation, or a confederation of sovereign nations, the will of the people should be central.
Habesha elites must accept and respect Oromia’s autonomy and unity if they genuinely wish to preserve the Ethiopian union for shared economic benefit. A liberated and united Oromia is not a threat—it is the cornerstone of regional unity in the Horn of Africa.
Moving Forward: Unification, Alliance, and Strategy
The re-unification of OLF is a hopeful development. Even those who opposed the specific path to unity were generally committed to the broader goals of Oromo liberation and alliances with non-Oromo forces against the TPLF. The only ones opposing both unity and alliance without suggesting alternatives are likely infiltrators from the ruling regime.
With unity and alliance progressing—albeit slowly—OLF must take a proactive role.
Liberated Oromia can set a precedent for all African nations oppressed by colonial borders and languages. Just as the revival of Waaqeffannaa demonstrates cultural resilience, Oromia’s political liberation can inspire similar movements across the continent. Finfinne, as both the capital of Africa and Oromia, must be free to shine the light of liberty to all oppressed peoples—including the colonizers, who are also imprisoned by systems of domination.
If OLF strengthens its position, Medrek will no longer function as an appeaser or junior partner. Instead, it can play a complementary role in a broad liberation front.
However, this is only possible if Medrek and similar groups commit to fairness: either a shared consensus on both Ethiopian integrity and Oromia’s unity, or a referendum on both. A one-sided demand—consensus for Ethiopia, referendum for Oromia—is unjust and unacceptable.
Only with such principles can a strong opposition front gain mass support and challenge the regime effectively. Otherwise, opposition forces risk becoming permanent junior partners in a system designed for them to lose.
Conclusion
Let Oromo republican forces—like OFC and OLF—form a solid coalition to become the leading opposition in the upcoming elections. Only then can we begin to dismantle the dominant-party system and move toward a just, inclusive, and democratic Ethiopia.
Galatooma!
Read more:https://orompia.wordpress.com/2023/04/0 ... -the-opdo/