Which of the Three Karà (Means) and Three Kàyyô (Goals) in the Oromo Struggle Should Prevail?
By Fayyis Oromia*
The Oromo struggle for freedom has always revolved around three major strategic approaches. For decades, we’ve debated — and continue to debate — the most effective means of achieving liberation: the rebel path, the opposition route, or the regime-infiltration strategy.
Personally, I have consistently supported the idea of infiltrating the regime, advocating that Oromo nationalists with the OLF mindset of sovereignty work from within. I believe that decisions by Meison in 1977, the OLF in 1992, and General Kamal with his forces in 2006 — to distance themselves from the ruling system instead of struggling from within — have cost us significantly.
The Three Goals
The debate over goals also remains unresolved. The three primary objectives in our struggle are:
An Independent Oromia
A Federal Union
An Integrative Oropia (an Ethiopia led by Oromummaa principles)
I firmly advocate for an Integrative Oropia, which I believe offers the greatest benefit to the Oromo people — enabling us to lead a reformed, inclusive Ethiopia rooted in justice and equality.
The Three Foes
Of the three historical enemies of the Oromo struggle:
Assimilationist Amhara elites
Hegemonist Tigrayan elites
Assimilated Oromo elites with an OPDO mindset
The first two have largely been defeated. Our primary enemy now is the assimilated Oromo elite, who, despite claiming Oromo identity, serve the interests of the old Amhara-dominated order. These individuals are determined to uphold the supremacy of Amarigna while relegating Afàn Oromô to a secondary role.
Progress and Resistance
Despite resistance from the pro-Amhara bloc, three commendable achievements have been made by OLF members active within OPP:
Promoting Afaan Oromo in Finfinne schools
Introducing Afaan Oromo as an additional working language in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church
Reframing the Victory of Adwa through an Oromo lens
Unsurprisingly, these measures faced backlash from anti-Oromummaa forces — confirming their role as active opponents to our liberation. Now, OLF in OPP must advance further:
Make Afaan Oromo the primary federal working language
Place Finfinne under Oromia’s full administration
Promote Agawigna as the main language of the Amhara region
Struggling on All Fronts
The OLF is commendably active in all three strategic spheres:
- Rebel (OLA)
- Opposition (OFC)
- Regime (OPP)
Both Habesha elites and “Hybrids” (by marriage, identity, or assimilation) who oppose Afàn Oromô’s rise are slowly but surely losing ground. Amhara extremists’ efforts to undermine the Oromo national movement are ironically uniting us further around the goal of bilisummaa and the elevation of Afàn Oromô.
The ongoing attempt by ruling Hybrids to suppress Afaan Oromo in favor of Amarigna will ultimately fail. I repeat: the most effective strategy for the OLF is to infiltrate and take over OPP. We must replace the anti-Oromummaa elements with genuine Oromo nationalists.
The Oromo Body: Understanding Ourselves
We cannot afford internal division. It is deeply concerning that Dr. Abiy and OPP continue to intimidate and imprison OLF leaders. Abyssinian elites benefit most when Oromo fight Oromo — a tactic used repeatedly to weaken our movement.
We must recognize our reality, develop a unified perception, and act together in pursuit of our national goals. Those who support our liberation are our friends. Anyone hindering our progress — directly or indirectly — is our foe.
Prioritizing the Primary Enemy
For now, let us set aside the “temporarily harmless” foes — the Nafxagna and Woyane forces — and focus on our most immediate threat: the Biltsigina leadership. We’ve fought many oppressors since the late 19th century, and sacrificed dearly. From 1992 onward, the TPLF was the primary barrier to Oromo progress. Now, Biltsigina has assumed that role, aided by a few Oromo collaborators.
We must classify the actors in our struggle:
- Main enemy: Biltsigina leadership
- Harmless foes: Anti-federalist Habesha elites
- Collaborators: Oromo elites loyal to Biltsigina
- Neutrals: Politically inactive Oromo
- Freedom fighters: Oromo in OPP, OFC, and OLF/OLA
Visualize the Oromo nation as a single human body:
- Gangrenous parts (collaborators) must be removed
- Paralyzed parts (neutrals) must be reactivated
- Healthy parts (fighters) must be empowered and coordinated
The Power of Tandem Struggle
To succeed, we must coordinate all active Oromo forces: in OPP (regime), OFC (opposition), and OLA (armed resistance). Like three riders on a tandem bicycle, synchronization is essential. If one leg fails, the whole system falters. Our three branches must pedal together — in harmony — to reach our goal of freedom.
Recommendations for Moving Forward
- Avoid generalizing OPP as the enemy; instead, focus on holding individual criminals accountable.
- Understand opposition rhetoric, especially when it contradicts our ideals, as it may reflect political pressure — we must unite all opposition parties under OFC.
- End intra-OLF rivalry; unite the various fronts under a single, strong OLF structure.
- Mobilize the politically inactive through education, agitation, and modern media outreach.
- Be precise in identifying collaborators — political purging must avoid harming any legitimate activist.
Conclusion
With these decisive actions, victory is not far. Now is the time for all Oromo nationalists — in OPP, OFC, and OLA — to unite in tandem against the Biltsigina dictatorship.
Let’s strive for a political landscape with:
- One ruling liberal-democratic force: OPP
- One nationalist republican force: ORP (Oromo Republican Party), possibly rooted in OLF and OFC.
May Wàqà help us pedal this bicycle of freedom in perfect tandem!
Galatôma!
Read more: https://orompia.wordpress.com/2023/03/0 ... -good-job/