The Two Hybrids (Abiy Ahmed and Shimelis Abdissa) Hijacked and Sabotaged the Oromo Victory of 2018!
Posted: 11 May 2025, 04:25
The Two Hybrids (Abiy Ahmed and Shimelis Abdissa) Hijacked and Sabotaged the Oromo Victory of 2018!
By Fayyis Oromia*
How unfortunate it is to witness the Oromo’s 2018 victory being hijacked, reversed, and sabotaged by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Oromia’s governor Shimelis Abdissa. Both are hybrids who have effectively silenced genuine Oromo nationalists to maintain the continued domination of Amaranet (Amharic identity/language) at the cost of Oromiffa and Oromummaa. Who would have thought that the heroic Qeerroo movement would prove so futile, only for us to return to square one? I was among those who believed we were finally liberated.
Sadly, the Oromo remain second-class citizens, compelled to learn Amharic in order to work in federal institutions and to be recognized as modern individuals. As long as Amharic dominates the palace and the federal government, even Oromo children aspire to assimilate in that direction—to become Amharanized. These two hybrid leaders maintain this status quo to honor their respective Amhara mothers. That is why the staunchest supporters of the ruling party, Biltsigina, are neither genuine Amhara nor true Oromo, but fellow hybrids.
The Oromo liberation movement achieved three major victories under the last three regimes:
- Under the Derg, we reclaimed our land from the feudal lords.
- During the TPLF rule, we institutionalized the use of Afaan Oromo at the regional level.
- Under Biltsigina, we pressured the state to begin liberating Oromummaa from Amaranet domination within the Orthodox Church.
The highest and most decisive victory yet to be achieved is making Afaan Oromo the primary working language of all federal institutions, replacing Amarigna. I don’t believe either Dr. Abiy or Obbo Shimelis has the courage or conviction to accomplish this. If they ever do, I will be the first to welcome them into the camp fighting for the liberation of Oromummaa. Until then, they deserve credit only for dismantling Amaranet dominance within the Orthodox Church. The full liberation of Oromummaa and the promotion of Afaan Oromo to federal status will ultimately be realized by Oromo republicans under the leadership of the OLF.
It is somewhat encouraging to see that the ruling pro-Amharanet Prosperitans are now divided and in conflict. These Oromo Prosperitans, once committed to maintaining the existing Amaranet dominance, are now turning against each other. One faction, led by Abiy Ahmed, is accused of promoting regionalism to divide and weaken the Oromo national movement. The other, under Shimelis Abdissa, is being criminalized for corruption and extrajudicial killings. As their power struggle unfolds, both groups—previously anti-Oromummaa—are now vying for Oromo support, which they are unlikely to win. To gain it, one of them may attempt to elevate Afaan Oromo or promote Oromummaa. So far, Shimelis’ group appears more serious.
Unfortunately, no current Oromo organization has proposed an optimal solution to the Oromo question. For example:
- The OFC’s vision of a multinational federation benefits minority groups at the center (MAC).
- The OLF’s call for an independent Oromia suits minority groups at the periphery (MAP).
But the Oromo nation is neither MAC nor MAP—it is the majority all over the country (MOA). Therefore, the optimal solution is to take over the Ethiopian state and rename it Oropia, with Afaan Oromo as the primary language. Other nations can then exercise their right to self-determination, whether following the OFC model or the OLF path.
Oromo political strategy must focus on realizing Oropia—an Ethiopia led by Oromummaa. Afaan Oromo should be the working language, and the country renamed Oropia. The goal is not secession, but the transformation of the empire into a true union state. The Oromo, as a majority people with their own capital at the center (Finfinne), must lead this transition.
So far, none of the five strategic directions taken by leading Oromo figures have been optimal:
- Dr. Negaso Gidada aligned with the hegemonists.
- Obbo Andargachew supported the unitarists.
- Gen. Kemal advocated for an independent Oromia.
- Obbo Dawud demanded a referendum between independence and union.
- Obbo Lencho favored a union Ethiopia.
None of these strategies are ideal for the Oromo as a dominant-yet-dominated majority. The Oromo should aim to take power in the Caffee Arara palace of Finfinne, dismantle the imperial system, and build a union state called Oropia. Other nations, like those in Bahir Dar or Mekelle, may then pursue their own paths—autonomy, federation, or independence.
Globally, we can identify five types of colonized or dominated peoples. But the Oromo situation is unique:
- Colonized by external powers (e.g. Africans under European rule): The solution was full independence. Some in the OLF, like Obbo Galaasa Dilbo, take this path. But Oromia wasn’t colonized by an external power.
- Peripheral minorities dominated by central power (e.g. Eritrea, Ogaden, South Sudan): The solution was referendum. Dawud Ibsa’s OLF promotes this. But Oromia is not at the periphery.
- Minorities at the center (e.g. Gurage, Harari): The solution is internal self-determination without necessarily a referendum. OFC takes this route. But the Oromo are not a minority.
- Dominant nations oppressed by internal elites (e.g. Ezema’s supporters): Their solution is national reform without addressing national self-determination. But the Oromo don’t dominate culturally.
- Minorities dominating the center through deceptive federalism (e.g. TPLF regime): Nagaso Gidada’s alignment with TPLF served hegemonic Tigrean interests.
The Oromo are the only major nation in the world whose own political center is dominated by others, while their culture and language are suppressed. The solution is to liberate Finfinne, take over the federal apparatus, and transform the empire into a genuine union. Change the flag, language, and even the name of the country if needed. Then, the Oromo can grant the right to self-determination to others.
May Waaqa open our eyes to see this optimal solution. Clearly, neither the current Prime Minister nor the regional President have the courage to promote Afaan Oromo as the federal language. Who then will rise to this historic task?
Galatooma!
Read more: https://orompia.wordpress.com/2023/02/1 ... umma-camp/
By Fayyis Oromia*
How unfortunate it is to witness the Oromo’s 2018 victory being hijacked, reversed, and sabotaged by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Oromia’s governor Shimelis Abdissa. Both are hybrids who have effectively silenced genuine Oromo nationalists to maintain the continued domination of Amaranet (Amharic identity/language) at the cost of Oromiffa and Oromummaa. Who would have thought that the heroic Qeerroo movement would prove so futile, only for us to return to square one? I was among those who believed we were finally liberated.
Sadly, the Oromo remain second-class citizens, compelled to learn Amharic in order to work in federal institutions and to be recognized as modern individuals. As long as Amharic dominates the palace and the federal government, even Oromo children aspire to assimilate in that direction—to become Amharanized. These two hybrid leaders maintain this status quo to honor their respective Amhara mothers. That is why the staunchest supporters of the ruling party, Biltsigina, are neither genuine Amhara nor true Oromo, but fellow hybrids.
The Oromo liberation movement achieved three major victories under the last three regimes:
- Under the Derg, we reclaimed our land from the feudal lords.
- During the TPLF rule, we institutionalized the use of Afaan Oromo at the regional level.
- Under Biltsigina, we pressured the state to begin liberating Oromummaa from Amaranet domination within the Orthodox Church.
The highest and most decisive victory yet to be achieved is making Afaan Oromo the primary working language of all federal institutions, replacing Amarigna. I don’t believe either Dr. Abiy or Obbo Shimelis has the courage or conviction to accomplish this. If they ever do, I will be the first to welcome them into the camp fighting for the liberation of Oromummaa. Until then, they deserve credit only for dismantling Amaranet dominance within the Orthodox Church. The full liberation of Oromummaa and the promotion of Afaan Oromo to federal status will ultimately be realized by Oromo republicans under the leadership of the OLF.
It is somewhat encouraging to see that the ruling pro-Amharanet Prosperitans are now divided and in conflict. These Oromo Prosperitans, once committed to maintaining the existing Amaranet dominance, are now turning against each other. One faction, led by Abiy Ahmed, is accused of promoting regionalism to divide and weaken the Oromo national movement. The other, under Shimelis Abdissa, is being criminalized for corruption and extrajudicial killings. As their power struggle unfolds, both groups—previously anti-Oromummaa—are now vying for Oromo support, which they are unlikely to win. To gain it, one of them may attempt to elevate Afaan Oromo or promote Oromummaa. So far, Shimelis’ group appears more serious.
Unfortunately, no current Oromo organization has proposed an optimal solution to the Oromo question. For example:
- The OFC’s vision of a multinational federation benefits minority groups at the center (MAC).
- The OLF’s call for an independent Oromia suits minority groups at the periphery (MAP).
But the Oromo nation is neither MAC nor MAP—it is the majority all over the country (MOA). Therefore, the optimal solution is to take over the Ethiopian state and rename it Oropia, with Afaan Oromo as the primary language. Other nations can then exercise their right to self-determination, whether following the OFC model or the OLF path.
Oromo political strategy must focus on realizing Oropia—an Ethiopia led by Oromummaa. Afaan Oromo should be the working language, and the country renamed Oropia. The goal is not secession, but the transformation of the empire into a true union state. The Oromo, as a majority people with their own capital at the center (Finfinne), must lead this transition.
So far, none of the five strategic directions taken by leading Oromo figures have been optimal:
- Dr. Negaso Gidada aligned with the hegemonists.
- Obbo Andargachew supported the unitarists.
- Gen. Kemal advocated for an independent Oromia.
- Obbo Dawud demanded a referendum between independence and union.
- Obbo Lencho favored a union Ethiopia.
None of these strategies are ideal for the Oromo as a dominant-yet-dominated majority. The Oromo should aim to take power in the Caffee Arara palace of Finfinne, dismantle the imperial system, and build a union state called Oropia. Other nations, like those in Bahir Dar or Mekelle, may then pursue their own paths—autonomy, federation, or independence.
Globally, we can identify five types of colonized or dominated peoples. But the Oromo situation is unique:
- Colonized by external powers (e.g. Africans under European rule): The solution was full independence. Some in the OLF, like Obbo Galaasa Dilbo, take this path. But Oromia wasn’t colonized by an external power.
- Peripheral minorities dominated by central power (e.g. Eritrea, Ogaden, South Sudan): The solution was referendum. Dawud Ibsa’s OLF promotes this. But Oromia is not at the periphery.
- Minorities at the center (e.g. Gurage, Harari): The solution is internal self-determination without necessarily a referendum. OFC takes this route. But the Oromo are not a minority.
- Dominant nations oppressed by internal elites (e.g. Ezema’s supporters): Their solution is national reform without addressing national self-determination. But the Oromo don’t dominate culturally.
- Minorities dominating the center through deceptive federalism (e.g. TPLF regime): Nagaso Gidada’s alignment with TPLF served hegemonic Tigrean interests.
The Oromo are the only major nation in the world whose own political center is dominated by others, while their culture and language are suppressed. The solution is to liberate Finfinne, take over the federal apparatus, and transform the empire into a genuine union. Change the flag, language, and even the name of the country if needed. Then, the Oromo can grant the right to self-determination to others.
May Waaqa open our eyes to see this optimal solution. Clearly, neither the current Prime Minister nor the regional President have the courage to promote Afaan Oromo as the federal language. Who then will rise to this historic task?
Galatooma!
Read more: https://orompia.wordpress.com/2023/02/1 ... umma-camp/