Ethiopian News, Current Affairs and Opinion Forum
OPFist
Member+
Posts: 6532
Joined: 29 Sep 2013, 09:27

Thanks to the OLF, the Abyssinian Empire is Pregnant with Oromia and/or Oropia!

Post by OPFist » 27 May 2025, 16:52

Thanks to the OLF, the Abyssinian Empire is Pregnant with Oromia and/or Oropia!

Fayyis Oromia*

The 150-year-old Abyssinian Empire became pregnant with a very potent force—the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF)—about 50 years ago. Now, this mother Empire is carrying a baby (or babies) in her womb. What is yet to be known is whether the fetus is Oromia, Oropia (an Oromummaa-led Ethiopia), or twins of both. Currently, the Oromo people are divided into three groups based on our aspirations for the baby that is to be born in the near future.

Some nationalists want to see an independent Oromia. Others support the birth of the twins—Oromia and Oropia—coexisting. A few are striving to transform the historically Amhara-dominated Ethiopia (referred to here as Amapia). These differing visions within the Oromo community are thus framed as:
- The birth of an independent Oromia
- The emergence of a federal union (the twin)
- The realization of an integrative Oropia
Which baby would you prefer to see: Oropia, Oromia, or the twin? What is certain is that the Abyssinian Empire is in the delivery room, about to give birth to one of these three possibilities.

In truth, independence is often what minority nations at the periphery seek. A federal union is typically preferred by minority groups at the center, while integration tends to be the vision of the majority over the whole country. The first is the kaayyoo ganamaa (original goal), which Oromo nationalists raised when we were most insecure. The second is the kaayyoo guyyaa (current goal), which is increasingly preferred now that we feel somewhat more secure. The third is the kaayyoo galgala (future goal), which we may pursue when we are not only secure but confident enough never to lose the gains we have made.

Thus, fighting for independence was the past (white) struggle, choosing a federal union is the current (red) movement, and striving for integration will be the future (black) politics of the Oromo people.

The Three Pillars of the Oromo Liberation Movement
Today, the Oromo liberation movement consists of two wings and a backbone—three key positions from which it fights the common enemy.

One wing wants to transform Ethiopia entirely, possibly rename the country Oromia, and make Afaan Oromo a federal language—yet it disregards the self-rule of the Oromo national area.
The backbone aims for an independent Oromia, which would be a powerful player in the Horn of Africa.
The other wing envisions liberating Oromia within a federal Oropian union, positioning Oromia as a leading nation-state in a shared country.
These three components are currently working to harmonize their strategies against a shared adversary. The Oromo national liberation movement is now found across the spectrum—from opposition parties to liberation fronts—challenging the oppressive regime. Surprisingly, no single organization coordinates all three segments. This reality suggests that one of the three forms of Oromo liberation is inevitable, and none are inherently disadvantageous to the Oromo people.

Three Historical Perspectives, Three Future Sovereignties
The three strands of the Oromo liberation movement stem from three different approaches to our history:

As a shared proud history with Abyssinia (e.g., the Adwa victory)
As a conflicting parallel history (e.g., the Menelik invasion and the so-called Oromo expansion)
As both a shared and conflicting history
From these perspectives arise the three visions for Oromia’s future sovereignty. To achieve our freedom efficiently, we must first fight together against the system of Abyssinian elite domination. Afterward, we can democratically choose one of the three sovereignties, based on the historical view we each hold.

Each faction corresponds to a broader global analogy:
- The Leencoo group sees both proud and conflicting parts of our history and prefers an Anglican-style liberation: like England’s autonomy after 360 years under Roman rule, leading to the United Kingdom. Oromia, too, could become autonomous and unite with neighboring autonomous regions to form a United Kush (Ethiopia), using Afaan Oromo as a federal language.

- The Galassa group emphasizes the conflicting history and prefers a Russian-style liberation: similar to how Russian elites dismantled the Soviet Union, formed a strong Russian Federation, and maintained regional influence. Could Oromia become an independent, powerful nation influencing its neighbors?
- The Fidaa group embraces only the shared proud history and chooses an Indian-style liberation: much like how Hindi speakers led a united India, promoting Hindi and dividing the national territory into federal states. Could the Oromo people do the same—liberate all nationalities, rename the country Oromia or Oropia, promote Afaan Oromo, and form federal units around traditional Odaa regions?

Democracy and the Oromo Advantage
All Oromo nationals have the right to choose the vision they believe is best. Ultimately, the voice of the Oromo majority must decide. Whether self-rule through Oromia or shared rule through Oropia, both should be on the agenda—unlike the limited options for Tigrayan elites, who now aim only for federation or separation.

In contrast
Amhara elites favor the Indian-style model because Amharic already has federal privilege.
Eritrean elites, marginalized on the periphery, saw separation as their only secure option (Russian-style).
Tigrayan elites, lacking both language privilege and full self-sufficiency, lean toward the Anglican model.
But the Oromo, as the largest group in the country, can play all three democratic cards: Anglican, Russian, and Indian—so long as freedom and democracy govern the political game. Let us use this advantage and collaborate with all pro-freedom, pro-democracy forces to reach the point where we can vote on our destiny.

Final Words
Personally, I believe all three paths are viable, but the final decision must come from a politically conscious Oromo public through a referendum, when the time is right. This essay is meant as a "bitter pill" to those who celebrate the division of the Oromo movement. Let them know: our movement has always had a single purpose—freedom—with three post-freedom interpretations. We adjust our vision based on current realities.

Thanks to the potent father OLF, the fertile mother Abyssinian Empire is now pregnant with Oromia and/or Oropia. It’s only a matter of time until delivery. May Waaqa grant us the patience and wisdom to wait and see!

Galatooma!
Read more: https://orompia.wordpress.com/2023/04/2 ... or-oropia/