Can the Inclusive Cooperation Led by Dr. Lemma Megersa Make a Difference in Ethiopia?
By Fayyis Oromia*
It appears the anti-Abiy opposition is steadily consolidating, with signs pointing toward a growing movement aimed at reclaiming power. Emerging reports suggest that Dr. Lemma Megersa is becoming the most favored leader within this emerging alliance. Alongside Gedu Andargachew, Lemma seems to be revisiting the spirit of the 2018 transition. However, this time, their cooperation is not merely an Oromara (Oromo-Amhara) initiative—it aims to be a truly inclusive Oromic-led Ethiopian (Oropian) alliance.
Such cooperation can make a difference—if all nations of Ethiopia, and particularly the Amhara elite, accept a fundamental reality: the legitimate and inevitable leadership role of the Oromo in Ethiopia’s future. Continued denial of this political reality—especially the resistance to Oromummà—will come at a high cost. It is time to embrace political reality, not just perform political correctness.
Historical Background: The Unionist vs. Unitarist Divide
The struggle to liberate Ethiopia from the oppressive Abyssinian empire has taken many forms, generally split between two ideological camps:
Unionists, who advocate for the liberation of nations through national autonomy and, where possible, the formation of a voluntary union of free peoples.
Unitarists, who aim to liberate individual citizens while maintaining a centralized Ethiopian state, often at the expense of national autonomy.
Even during the revolutionary period post-1974, this divide shaped major political movements. For example, despite their shared socialist leanings, Me’ison and Ihapa diverged in vision:
- Me’ison, largely Oromo-led, promoted self-determination and national autonomy.
- Ihapa, led by Tigrayan intellectuals, advocated cultural rights within a centralized unitary state.
As the Derg regime unleashed brutal repression, remnants of both Me’ison and Ihapa realigned: Me’ison intellectuals found a home in the OLF, while Ihapa’s ideology ultimately shaped the TPLF. The ideological battle between unionism and unitarism continues today, though in different forms.
TPLF’s Authoritarian Legacy in a Federal Mask
After 1991, the TPLF-led coalition was forced to adopt certain unionist principles—such as the constitutional right to self-determination. But in practice, Ethiopia became a centralized authoritarian regime, benefiting TPLF’s core interests, especially in Tigray. The federal structure existed in form, not in substance.
Political Alliances Since 1974: A Pattern of Failure and Fragmentation
A series of alliances emerged over the decades, each reflecting the tension between unionist and unitarist ideologies. Most failed due to exclusion, sabotage, or internal contradictions:
Key Alliances:
IMALEDIH – A short-lived unionist-unitarist alliance crushed by the Derg.
IHADEG – A TPLF-dominated coalition with subordinate ethnic parties for legitimacy.
COEDF – Formed in 1991 in Washington but failed to impact the transitional charter.
CAFPDE – Undermined by exclusion of major Oromo forces.
ULFO – An Oromo-only unionist front; refused unitarist cooperation, limiting impact.
UEDF – Mixed alliance lacking OLF and ONLF, later fractured.
CUD – Hardline unitarist coalition; alienated unionists, triggering its own collapse.
AFD – A promising inclusive alliance of OLF and CUD, but sabotaged through propaganda.
MEDREK – Legal successor to AFD, weakened by internal division.
AGER-ADIN – Started inclusively but devolved into a unitarist coalition.
PAFD – A unionist-only alliance, lacking inclusivity.
ENM – Excluded key pro-independence groups like OLF and ONLF.
Each of these efforts ultimately fell short—either by design or by sabotage. Notably, the TPLF and, later, Biltsigina (Prosperity Party) have mastered the art of manipulating identity and ideological divisions to weaken the opposition.
A New Path Forward: Building an Inclusive Alliance
To break this cycle of fragmentation, a two-step process is essential:
- Internal Consolidation:
- Unionists must unify through platforms like PAFD.
- Unitarists must strengthen their bloc through movements like ENM.
Strategic Alliance:
Once consolidated, these blocs must form a broad-based, inclusive coalition to challenge the Biltsiginà regime effectively.
However, success requires that democratic unitarists abandon two regressive positions:
The colonial assimilationist vision of Amhara autocrats, who see Ethiopia as a monolingual, centralized nation.
The indirect rule model of Tigrayan elites, who favor cultural autonomy without real political self-rule.
Instead, a sincere alliance between democratic unitarists and future-oriented unionists must emerge—one grounded in shared values, not opportunism.
Phases of the Struggle
We must recognize that our political journey has two phases:
- Liberation Phase – Ending authoritarianism and dismantling the Biltsiginà regime.
- Democratization Phase – Building democratic institutions and fostering public participation.
If we are already in the early stages of the second phase, now is the time to institutionalize democracy, not regress into authoritarian nostalgia.
Unionists—especially Oromo nationalists—must expand their vision to include all oppressed groups, including the Habesha peoples. This broadened outlook will encourage democratic unitarists to engage in sincere cooperation.
Conclusion: Toward a Truly Inclusive, Oromo-Led Ethiopian Alliance
A genuinely inclusive alliance is both necessary and possible—one that unites Oromo unionists and Amhara democratic unitarists in a common cause: the dismantling of the Biltsiginà regime and the building of a just, democratic Ethiopia.
We must reject division and propaganda. Let this be more than an Oromara arrangement—let it be a nationwide coalition, legitimately led by democratic Oromo leaders like Dr. Lemma Megersa.
May Wàqa grant us the wisdom, courage, and clarity to seize this moment and forge a truly transformative alliance—one that is different, and one that can make a difference.
Galatôma!
Read more: https://orompia.wordpress.com/2019/01/0 ... -ethiopia/