Finally, Pro-Oromummaa Elites Outsmart Pro-Amaranet Elites in the Biltsigina Party!
By Fayyis Oromia*
It seems that pro-Oromummaa elites in Biltsigina are taking the upper hand after nearly five years of bitter internal struggle. There is no question that the Qeerroo movement brought about the change of 2018. Team Lammaa in general, and Abiy Ahmed’s family in particular, entered the palace wearing Oromo attire. We believed that Dr. Abiy would be our Baro Tumsa of the century.
Unfortunately, he betrayed the Oromo cause and chose instead to maintain the existing Amapia (Amharanet-dominated Ethiopia). Amhara elites hijacked him and his regime, using him to suppress both Oromo and Tigrayan nationalists. Dr. Abiy fell into their trap and began persecuting genuine Oromo and Tegaru activists. Yet, that wasn’t enough for the [ deleted ] Amhara elites. Despite all his efforts to appease them, they couldn’t trust him simply because he is biologically Oromo. They conspired to get rid of him and weaken his rule through every means possible, including the Fano movement.
Ironically, this turned out to be a great opportunity to unify Oromo nationalists under OFC, OLA, OLF, and OPP in the defense of the Oromo and Oromia. Now, Fano is crushed, never again to pose a threat to the Oromo. Dr. Abiy had no other option but to return to his constituency. Hopefully, he will find the courage to promote Afaan Oromoo to its rightful place as the primary national language, replacing Amharic. It appears that the pro-Oromummaa elites within the Biltsigina Party have finally outsmarted the pro-Amaranet faction.
Historic Context:
The central political conflict in Ethiopia since 1270 has been between two identities: Amharanet and Oromummaa. The creation of Amharic (Amarigna) as the Lisane Nigus by ruling Oromo elites, including Yekuno Amlak, marked the beginning of a long trend. Since then, Amharic became the royal language, which many aspired to speak. In contrast, Afaan Oromo was regarded as a language of the commoners, especially farmers.
As a result, every central government elite has revered Amharic while disregarding Afaan Oromo. This pattern continued under Abiy Ahmed’s hybrid regime, which has prioritized Amharic while sidelining Oromiffaa. Amharic remains dominant in the palace and the capital, seen as the model language. Even Oromo elites often choose to speak polished Amharic, rather than promoting Afaan Oromo as the working language of government, parliament, military, judiciary, and media.
Political Landscape:
Today, Ethiopian political forces fall into two main blocs:
Pro-Amharanet Bloc – includes:
Most Amhara organizations
Ethiopianist parties that implicitly promote Amharanet
Oromo organizations with Amharanet leanings who revere Amharic and marginalize Oromiffaa
Pro-Oromummaa Bloc – includes:
Oromo nationalists who respect and promote Afaan Oromo
Other national groups (like Tigrayans) fighting for national self-determination
Despite leading three major revolutions, the Oromo failed to achieve full liberation due to internal sabotage:
- 1974: Pro-Amharanet elites, led by Mengistu Hailemariam (an Oromo), defeated the Meison party led by Haile Fida.
- 1992: OPDO (pro-Amharanet) pushed out the OLF (pro-Oromummaa), despite popular Oromo support for the latter.
- 2018: Abiy’s OPP (pro-Amharanet) began persecuting pro-Oromummaa figures like those in OFC and OLF, and once again, the Oromo masses remained largely passive.
Opportunity for Unity:
In all three cases, the Oromo masses initially supported pro-Oromummaa leaders but withdrew after crackdowns. We must ask ourselves: Are we sabotaging our own cause? The Amhara elites have benefited from our disunity.
The core difference between OLF/OFC and OPP lies in their stance on national language priority. OLF and OFC see Afaan Oromo as the rightful working language of the federation due to the Oromo’s majority status. OPP, under Dr. Abiy, continues to prioritize Amharic.
The Journey of the Oromo Liberation:
Let us consider the symbolic train route of Oromo liberation:
- Djibouti – Colonial stage
- Ayisha – Cultural autonomy (where we are now)
- Dire Dawa – True federation
- Adama – Oromia’s independence
- Finfinne – Union of free nations
We have moved from Djibouti to Ayisha. The next stop must be Dire Dawa, and from there to Adama or Finfinne, depending on public verdict.
Strategic Action Points:
- Public Level: Educate and organize the grassroots towards unity and national goals.
- Media Level: Encourage constructive dialogue and expose misinformation, even when disguised in Oromo identity.
- Polity Level: Consolidate mini-organizations into a united, strong front—ideally under a reformed and united OLF.
Alliances and the Road Ahead:
While we may collaborate with Abironet (federalist) forces to reach Dire Dawa, the journey to Adama/Finfinne will require alliances with Arinet (independence-focused) forces. The Andinet bloc wants to reverse the journey altogether, and the Abiyotawi bloc (like TPLF’s vision) would keep us at Ayisha.
The recent dialogue between OPP and OLF hinted at the possibility of an anti-domination alliance that could end the dominance of Amharanet. This is a golden opportunity. Should they squander it, history will not forgive them.
Conclusion:
Unity for freedom is the only solution to our long-standing national dilemma. If pro-Oromummaa elites in OPP can defeat the pro-Amharanet elements within their ranks, and work alongside OFC and OLF, the liberation journey can finally reach its destination. Afaan Oromo deserves to be the primary language of Ethiopia—not just in Oromia, but in the palace, parliament, and beyond. Once this happens, it will become a language of prestige and progress, rather than being falsely labeled “primitive.”
May Waaqaa guide and empower the Oromo people.
Galatooma!
Read more:https://orompia.wordpress.com/2023/01/0 ... -and-2018/