By Fayyis Oromia*
Initially, we all thought that in 2018, Oromo elites had taken power from Habesha elites after many years of struggle by the Qérrô and OLF. But in reality, hybrid elites, led by the hybrid Prime Minister, came to power by sabotaging the genuine Oromo liberation movement. To put it more precisely, the Habeshanized Oromo elites (the Habeshas) lost power to the hybridized Oromo elites (the Hybrids), but not yet to the Horomonized Oromo elites (the Horomos).
In simple terms:
- Habesha elites are totally against Oromo interests.
- Hybrid elites entertain Oromo interests only half-heartedly.
- Horomo elites are fully committed to Oromo interests.
Hopefully, the next government change in Caffé Aràrà (Finfinné Palace) will be from the Hybrids to Horomo elites—not a return to Habesha elites.
For about 150 years, Ethiopia was ruled by dictatorial Habesha authoritarians until the change in 2018. Over the past six years, the regime, which outwardly appears Oromo but is implicitly Amhara—biologically and/or psychologically a hybrid regime—has held power in the Finfinné Palace. This regime is deeply deceptive to the Oromo. Even some genuine Oromo nationalists from the OLF initially supported it.
However, the reality on the ground reveals that the Prosperity Party (Prosperitians), led by Abiy Ahmed, prioritizes Amharigna/Amharanet over Oromiffà/Oromummà. They are determined to maintain the domination of Amharic and keep Afan Oromo secondary.
Yet Afan Oromo can and should legitimately be promoted to the primary working language of all federal institutions—including the palace, parliament, cabinet, courts, military, and security—replacing Amharic. This important task must be taken up by a future democratic administration of genuine Oromo nationalists, who are expected to take power from the incumbent hybrid regime.
- There is no doubt: the fate of Ethiopia has already been determined.
- The Ethiopia of the past—“Amapia” (Amharanet-dominated Ethiopia)—is dying.
- The Ethiopia of the future—“Oropia” (Oromummà-led Ethiopia)—is emerging, slowly but surely.
During this transition, a rainbow federation may exist—a temporary hybrid form resembling Amapia. Over time, this form will evolve toward Oropia, a state that is, in practice, defined by Oromo culture, language, and leadership.
Amhara elites are increasingly aware of this shift, which explains their vehement opposition to the growing influence of Oromummà. Even Oromo elites can now be classified into three ideological categories:
- Amapianists – Oromo elites in the OPP, who support maintaining Amhara dominance (Amharanet/Amharigna).
- Ethiopianists – Oromo elites in the OFC, who advocate for a democratic, multicultural Ethiopia (rainbow federation).
- Oropianists – Oromo elites in the OLF, who foresee the inevitable transformation of Ethiopia into Oropia.
It is encouraging to see Oropianists in the OFC and OLF cooperating against the dictatorial Amapianist regime led by Abiy Ahmed. Abiy and his Prosperity Party allies aim to preserve Amharanet dominance at the expense of Oromiffà and Oromummà—just as Oromo rulers in the past, from Yekuno Amlak to Mengistu, did while serving Amhara interests. They are biological Oromos but political Amarianists.
The OLF stands in rebellion against this 750-year legacy, aiming to establish a Republic of Oromia on the ruins of the Amhara empire. The OFC, on the other hand, envisions a democratized Ethiopia governed by a modernized Gadaa system, with Afan Oromo as the primary working language.
Such a democratic Ethiopia would be a de facto Oropia, even broader and more inclusive than the OLF’s Republic of Oromia. Now is the time for the OFC and OLF to cooperate to achieve their shared goal of bilisummaa (freedom). Once the dictatorial Amarianist regime is removed, the people can choose between a democratic Ethiopia and an independent Oromia through referendum.
The Gridlock in the Oromo Liberation Movement
The presence of a gridlock in the Oromo liberation movement has previously been highlighted—Gadaa.com once illustrated this metaphorically as a traffic jam. While various ideas and suggestions have been proposed at conferences and in online forums, the division persists.
This division stems from a perceived ideological split among Oromo nationalists:
- Those who want to democratize Ethiopia (toward Oropia), and
- Those who want to decolonize Oromia (toward independence).
Despite efforts to show that this is more of a perception than a real conflict, the division continues to manifest in discourse and media.
The only real ideological conflict is with Amarianists, who oppose even the autonomy of Oromia. In contrast, there is no fundamental conflict between:
- Oromo federalists, who support genuine autonomy within Ethiopia, and
- Oromo separatists, who advocate for complete independence.
A Framework for Clarity
To resolve this perceived division, we must reframe our understanding: We have one collective Oromo objective:
This objective can result in three specific outcomes, which should be decided through referendum:
- Oromia’s autonomy within Ethiopia
- Oromia’s independence as a sovereign state
- A union of free peoples (as independent or autonomous nations)
Some concepts are unspecific and non-negotiable:
- Self-determination: the overarching objective.
- Freedom: essential in all outcomes.
- Sovereignty: necessary in every form—whether autonomous, independent, or as part of a union.
Others are specific and require decision-making:
- Autonomy vs. independence
- Union of autonomous peoples vs. union of independent nations
It’s likely that the majority of Oromo people would vote for complete independence or a union of independent nations, not just autonomy.
The Evolving Consensus
More and more Oromo elites now recognize that gaining Àngô (power) in Finfinné, implementing the Gadaa systemnationally, and promoting Afan Oromo as the federal working language can transform Ethiopia into a democratic Oropia, which could be even more beneficial than an isolated Republic of Oromia.
Even the OLF appears to prioritize democratic Oropia over immediate independence, making cooperation with the OFCmore feasible and essential. Together, they can dismantle the dictatorial Abyssinianist regime of the OPP, led by Abiy Ahmed, and pave the way for true bilisummaa—whether through a sovereign Oromia or a democratized, Oromo-led Ethiopia.
Galatôma!
Read more: https://orompia.wordpress.com/2017/05/2 ... -struggle/