The Oromo Can Own Ethiopia and Redefine Ethiopiawinet on Our Terms!
By Fayyis Oromia*
Ethiopia and Ethiopiawinet have historically belonged to whichever nation dominated the palace in Finfinné. Until 1991, Amhara elites held that power, so they claimed ownership of Ethiopia and Ethiopiawinet. They continue to do so today because Amharic still dominates, and Ethiopia remains, in practice, an Amapia—a state shaped by Amhara dominance.
Tigrayan elites also embraced the idea of Ethiopia and Ethiopiawinet during their 27-year rule. Since 2018, Oromo leaders under the Prosperity Party have taken charge in Finfinné. As a result, many Oromos have started speaking about owning Ethiopia, rather than establishing an independent Republic of Oromia.
Although the time may not yet be fully ripe to celebrate Ethiopia, especially while Amharic remains the dominant language, genuine Oromo nationalists can work to change that reality. It is time for all Oromo republicans to unite—to take control of the palace, place Finfinné under Oromia’s authority, and promote Afaan Oromo as the primary working language of all federal institutions, including the palace, parliament, cabinet, courts, military, and security forces.
Such an Ethiopia would effectively become Oropia—a state led by Oromo values and identity. Slowly but surely, Ethiopia as Amapia is fading, and Ethiopia as Oropia is rising. The Oromo can own this new Ethiopia—on our terms.
The Three Core Questions for the Oromo Today:
- Àngô Oromo – Oromo power in the Caffé Ararà (Palace)
- Finfinné Oromo – Re-Oromization and Oromo control of Finfinné
- Afàn Oromo – Establishing Afaan Oromo as the primary working language of the federation
If these three demands are met, we may not even need a clearly demarcated Oromia within Ethiopia. That would open the door to supporting Zegnet politics, which oppose ethnic federalism. Currently, only the first demand has been partially addressed, as the OPP still lacks the political will and capacity to fully serve Oromo national interests. The second and third have yet to be fulfilled—hence the need for a unified Oromo Republican Party (ORP), possibly emerging from a merger of the OLA, OFC, and OLF.
Key Strategic Questions in the Oromo Liberation Struggle:
- What is the route to freedom—non-peaceful resistance or non-violent struggle?
- What is the desired end-state after freedom—an independent Oromian state or a federated Oropian state?
Among major Oromo organizations:
- Nationalists in OPP, OFC, and segments of the OLF support non-violent struggle and envision a Oropian state.
- The OLA supports non-peaceful struggle and aims for an independent Oromian state.
Interestingly, General Kamal—once praised by Ethiopian nationalists for amending the OLF’s program in 2012 to support a federal democratic Ethiopia—has since shifted toward an Oromian vision, renaming his faction the ONP. What do the Abyssinian elites say about him now?
Despite tactical differences, all Oromo organizations agree on bilisummaa (freedom) as the national goal. They differ only in their methods and in the desired structure of the post-freedom state. For the OPP and OFC, a free Oromia within a federated Oropian union serves Oromo interests best. The OLA and parts of the OLF believe a fully sovereign Oromia is the more beneficial path.
Oromo individuals can choose their preferred route and outcome, and the Oromo nation as a whole can employ both strategies to reach freedom. These paths are not contradictory but complementary. The ultimate form of sovereignty—whether an independent Oromia or a federated Oropia—will be determined by a referendum when the time is right. There’s no need for internal conflict on this issue now.
A long-term compromise could involve renaming Ethiopia to Oropia, avoiding potential fragmentation while honoring Oromo identity. Such a change would recognize the role of the Tulama Oromo in shaping the Ethiopian state. Ethiopianists who truly want to preserve territorial unity should accept this compromise. It is not a loss for Oromianists either—Oropia would be a larger, more inclusive version of Oromia.
Galatooma!
Read more: https://orompia.wordpress.com/2017/04/0 ... titutions/