Mereja.Forum

[OPFist]

Spectrum of Ethiopian Politics: Amapianists <--> Confederalists <--> Oropianists!

Ethiopia’s current politics is not based on class struggle (capitalism vs communism), religious conflict (Wàqeffannà vs Abrahamic religions) or Killil-soveteignity (geo-fedrration vs ethno- ederation). It is all about Amapia (Amaranet dominated Ethiopia) vs Oropia (Oromummà led Ethiopia). Amara elites and other pro-Amaranet forces are determined to maintain the status quo. Genuine Oromo nationalists and the allied pro-Oromummà forces strive to realize the legitimate transformation of Amapia to Oropia. All other forces in Ethiopia can never be neutral. They either keep the status quo of Amaranet domination or support the transformation to Oropia. Dr. Abiy and his prosperitan party are also yet to choose between the two jobs: maintain Amapia or promote Oropia! As a middle compromise position between the conservative position of the Amapianists and radical view of Oropianists, we find Confederalists, who believe in quasi independent Amaria and independent Oromia.
Read more: https://fayyisoromia.wordpress.com/2023 ... -politics/

[OPFist]

The victory over TPLF is tantamount to an end of Tegaru’ influence in Finfinnee palace. No more triangular (Amhara-Tegaru-Oromo) struggle for power. Now, it is the beginning of a bitter fight between Amhara and Oromo elites. Amhara elites being supported by the PAE (pro-Amharanet elites) from other nations will continue to maintain the existing domination of Amharanet/Amharigna with the pretext of promoting Ethiopiawinet. Oromo elites in general and the POE (pro-Oromo elites) in particular need to be ready in order to fight against the worst enemy (Oromo Naftagnas).
Amhara Naftagnas (A-Naftagnas), whom we defeated in 1991 were bad enemies and Tegaru Naftagnas (T-Naftagnas), which we chased away recently were worse. It was not hard for the Oromo to fight against these two Naftagnas in unison. But, the struggle against the Oromo Naftagnas (O- Naftagnas), whom I consider as the worst enemy ruling in Finfinne palace is very challenging. It is difficult firstly, because it effectively divided Oromo nationalists in to two (pro- Abiy and anti-Abiy) as well as secondly for the Amhara Naftagnas are supporting the incumbent whole heartedly in order to keep the ongoing domination of Amharanet/Amharigna.

[OPFist]

It is interesting to observe that an opposition against EPP of Dr. Abiy is coming from three directions: Conservative Amara elites, Hegemonist Tegaru elites and Republican Oromo elites. It seems that the three main contenders of power in Caffee Araara palace (Amara, Tegaru and Oromo elites) were trying to have Dr. Abiy and his administration on their respective side in order to dominate the ongoing politics. The Amaras tried it thinking that he is supporter of their position because of his rhetoric about Ethiopian unity. The Tegarus wanted to have him as loyal as his predecessor (Ato HMD) for he is emerging from the ruling Coalition – EPRDF. Oromo elites thought that he should serve the interest of his own nation above all. But, Dr. Abiy seems to balance the three demands from the three angles and wants the three angles to cooperate for the sake of keeping his power. Can he be successful? Is it possible for him to transform the triangular conflict into triangular cooperation based on certain compromise common denominator of the three forces? What should be that common denominator? Fact on the ground is that he can never survive by losing Oromo support of the republicans as it seems to be now. Otherwise, it is really nice to observe what I wrote many years ago becoming a reality.

[OPFist]

I explained the necessity of this triangular struggle between Amara, Tegaru and Oromo elites at the time when TPLF was actively using the conflict between Amara and Oromo for its advantage of ruling by divide and destroy mechanism. As far as my hitherto understanding of our history is concerned, Ethiopia, also depicted in the Holy Book as Cushland, is located south of Egypt and stretches from Meroe to Mombasa. I know, there is a controversy regarding this assertion for some scholars do claim that the Biblical Cush was located some where in Arabia. Neverthless, let me here take as a fact (operationally define) that Cushland is land of those nations speaking Cushitic languages, i.e. the land which stretches in Africa from northeastern Sudan to northeastern Tanzania. Then, we see that the current geographical Ethiopia is part of Cushland. We heard and read that Cushitic nations existed in eastern part of Africa, all sharing common cultural heritage, since 8000 years ago. As linguistic evidences testify, the ancient Cushitic languages had been divided into four branches starting from 5,000 B.C., thus now the branches having their different linguistic and national identities.

[OPFist]

Some common positive values of the Cushites include their monotheistic faith system, they believing in only one Supreme Being known as Waaqa by the Oromo and Higelibona by the Agaw, the faith system with no concept for Satan and Hell in order to punish human being after death; their egalitarian social norm and democratic values like Gadaa administration of the Oromo; their tendency to cultivate harmony, love and peace as major social values; as well as their good tradition regarding peaceful transfer of power as practiced in Gadaa democracy. But, as recorded in historical process of the region, Cush peoples in northern part of Ethiopia (like the Agaw) had already started to accept languages, aristocratic rule, theocratic tradition and other values of the Middle East, including personal namings in both their aristocracy and theocracy.

[OPFist]

Before the beginning of domination by Axum empire (in today’s Tigrai and Eritrea), inhabitants of the area were believed to be mostly Cushites; that is why also Axum civilization is said to be part of Cush civilization. The so called Solomonic dynasty in Axum empire is actually taken by some scholars as dynasty of the Agaw, who accepted values of non-Cushitic theocracy, including creation of Ge-ez language (a combination of Agaw, original Hebrew and ancient Yemenite Hebrew languages). This dynasty was believed to have been later taken over by the explicit Cushitic dynasty of Zagwe. The same trend seems to have had happened latter in Hankô-bar of Dirree-Saawwaa (Shoa), where the Cushitic Oromo used to live. Also the Solomonic dynasties in Saawwaa and Gondar were considered by some writers as dynasties of native Oromo. The ruling class of this dynasty created its own language – “Lisane-Nigus” (Amharinya), around the year 1270 from the combination of Afan Oromo, Ge-ez/Tigrinya and Agewinya. The Chrisitian kingdom is said to have controlled only about 1000SqKm around Hankoo-bar in the 14th century, being surrounded by the Oromo; it gradually expanded its territory to include all the present Amara part of North Saawwaa and beyond that extended up to Indian Ocean. In the 16th century, after Oromo defense forces successfully protected their nation from attacks by both Ottoman Turks and the Portuguese (time when all foreigners were driven out and since when Ethiopia was considered to be isolated), this same Oromo dynasty continued to rule in Gondar till the rise of Agaw warlord, Atse Theodros, who started to defeat the Oromo dynasty for first time, being supported by Europeans.

[OPFist]

The negative impacts of northern elites’ rule on the affected part of Cush nations did include forceful conversion of peoples to Judaism and Orthodox-Christianity; authoritarian tradition terrorizing non-Abyssinian neighbors; autocracy and dictatorship replacing their democratic tradition; intrigues as well as inculcating of war as their motto for keeping previlage; and taking over of power from each other by using means of murder and violence. These negative impacts were to some extent checked by the Oromo till rise of Atse Theodros in mid-nineteenth century. The first victim of Abyssinian domination was the Cushitic Agaw nation; it was then followed by victimization of the Oromo in northern part of Oromia. Some history writers think that Cush peoples were physically pushed from north to south, but I think they were rather more influenced, both culturally and linguistically, than being pushed physically. The military and political moves of Theodros and Yohannes IV as well as that of Minilik and Haile-Sillasie were further attempts of subjugating the Oromo and other nations in southern part of Ethiopia. At last, Minilik and Gobanaa together succeeded in invading the Oromo and other Cushitic and Nilotic nations of southern region.

[OPFist]

When we look at recent history of the Oromo, this nation can be regarded as part and parcel of both dominating polity and dominated public in history of Ethiopia. The kings from Ye-Kunoo-Amlak to Haile-Sillasie Guddisa, most of them originating from Sáwwá Oromo, were classical examples. The move of the Oromo in self-defense against both Europeans and Ottoman Turks during the sixteenth century war in the Horn, including the rule by Oromo kings in Gondar dynasty; the ruling Oromo federalists of Ejjuu Oromo from Ras Ali-I to Ras Ali-II during the so called “Zemene Mesafint” (Era of the Princes); the contribution of Tewabech (daughter of Ras Ali-II from Oromia), wife of Atse Theodros, for the success of her husband; the contribution of Itege Taayitu Bitul (the Ejjuu Oromo lady) in coordinating the moves of both Minilik and Gobanaa during invasion of Ethiopia and during the Adwa war against Italian colonizers; the contribution of Oromo Generals in consolidating Ethiopian unity and the mysterious death of Gobanaa; the rejection of Lij Iyassu (Muslim Oromo) by European Christian Kings and his premature death being accused as Muslim; the role of Oromo Generals like Qusee Dinagde to consolidate Haile-Sillasie’s rule; the role of Oromo Generals like Jagamaa Keello in defending Haile-Sillasie from coup attempt by Neway brothers; the participation of other Oromo Generals like Tsigee Dibuu in this same coup attempt; the role of Oromo patriots like Abune Phexros, Abebe Aregay and Belay Zeleqe in defending Ethiopia from fascist Italy during the Second World War; the heroic deeds of Abdissa Aaga in Italy; the role of Oromo revolutionaries like Walellign Mekonen, Haile Fida, Baaroo Tumsa, Senay Likke, Dabalaa Dhinsaa, Mengistu Haile-Mariam and Teferi Bantii to topple the last monarchy; the coup attempt by Oromo Generals like Merid Nugusee, Demise Bulto and Amha Desta against brutal Derg; the “last minute” attempt of General Tesfaye Gebre-Kidan and Tesfaye Dinqaa (both being Oromo) to save Ethiopia from disintegration during fall of Derg; the role of OLF in bringing down Derg rule; the main opposition against Woyane since 1991, which is mainly from the Oromo nation; and even the fact that prominent unitarist leaders in the opposition camp (like Birtukan Midhagsaa and Andargachew Tsige) being from Oromo roots, the current saving of Ethiopia from disintegration due to Oromos being led Dr. Abiy, etc – all these show an involvement of Oromo elites in both the northern elites’ domination process and in defense of the southern oppressed nations against this same process.

[OPFist]

Recently, the last domination process under influence of the tyrant TPLF regime was defeated. We know that some of the oppressed nations in Ethiopia have developed their own distinctive languages, identities and ways of life to deserve their own free nation-states. Their amalgamation within a unitary state by disregarding their right to national self-determination was not, is not and will not be, as such constructive. Just disregarding the possible unitary state advocated by northern elites, it is interesting that we can now observe, for example, Oromo people are the most tolerant in the region and allow others to live among them in comparison to nations in the north. Let’s look at the relatively very few presence of Gurage, who tend to move over corners of the country for the sake of making business, in northern region, in comparison to what they do enjoy all over Oromia and in southern regions. It is this tolerance of the Oromo, which invites others to work with them against injustice in the whole Ethiopia. The resistance against tyranny, which was perpetrated by nothern elites from Tigrai, needed such an all-inclusive alliance in form of both liberation struggle and democratization process.