Dr. Abiy’s Ethiopia is de facto Amapia, not necessarily Oropia!
By Fayyis Oromia*
When pro-Amaranet elites and pro-Oromummaa elites speak of Ethiopia, they are often referring to two fundamentally different concepts under the same name. For the former group, Ethiopia is a country defined by Amaranet domination. For the latter, it is a federation led by Oromummaa. We can refer to the Amaranet-dominated Ethiopia as Amapia, and the Oromummaa-led Ethiopia as Oropia.
As long as Amaranet/Amarigna continues to dominate over Oromummaa/Oromiffa, there is little difference between the Ethiopia of Dr. Abiy and that of Emperor Menelik. As long as Oromiffa is kept inferior to Amarigna under Abiy’s regime—despite the Oromo being the demographic majority—the struggle must continue. Aluta continua! The liberation struggle of the Oromo nation is not over.
Historically, since around 1270, two types of Oromo elites have emerged:
- Those who revere Amarigna, willingly speak it, and seek to Amharanize themselves and their children.
- Those who value Oromiffa and strive to preserve it against cultural erosion.
From Yekuno Amlak to Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopia’s ruling class has largely leaned towards pro-Amarigna sentiments. In contrast, freedom fighters inspired by the bilisummaa (liberation) mindset of the OLF champion Oromiffa and Oromo self-determination. Today’s struggle continues between these two elite camps within the Oromo.
We have already overcome classical Habesha elites in three revolutions (1974, 1991, and 2018). Currently, pro-Amarigna Oromo elites led by Dr. Abiy hold power in Finfinne Palace. They appear determined to maintain Amarigna’s dominance at the expense of Oromiffa. As a result, they obstruct Ethiopia’s natural transformation from Amapia to the inevitable Oropia.
This is why Abiy Ahmed’s regime continues to persecute genuine Oromo nationalists, suppress democratization, and maintain authoritarian control. In a truly democratic Ethiopia, Afaan Oromo would naturally become the leading national language due to the Oromo’s demographic weight. To resist this, the pro-Amaranet elite must resort to dictatorship.
The Oromo struggle must now focus on exposing Oromo elites who, while masked as liberators, act as 21st-century collaborators against the national cause.
The OLF vs. EPP: Power Struggle or Ideological Rift?
The OLF is now acting as an ethno-federalist movement seeking a genuinely democratic, language-based federation as a step toward an independent Oromia. Conversely, Dr. Abiy’s Prosperity Party (EPP) appears to prefer a loosely federalized but integrated Ethiopia dominated by Amarigna. If they were to abandon this domination and fully democratize, they might rightly be called Oropianists, since a democratic Ethiopia led by Afaan Oromo would essentially become Oropia, as envisioned by the OFC.
So, is the current clash between the OLF and EPP ideological—or simply a power struggle?
In essence:
- Oromianists aim for a sovereign Oromia with or without a union (Oropia).
- Oropianists envision a sovereign Oropia, with or without an independent Oromia.
At a panel discussion in Minnesota a few years ago, Oromo scholars and leaders from various factions of the OLF and OFC came together. It was encouraging to witness leaders from different camps sitting together, answering public questions from the same podium. However, the absence of an explicit unity of purpose was disappointing—except in the case of the OFC leader, who had already succeeded in unifying major Oromo federalist parties.
One Objective, Three Phases: Self-Determination
Discussions since then have revealed that the conflict among Oromo elites isn’t really over objectives, but rather the approach to sovereignty—whether through the liberation of Oromia (Biyya-Oromo) or transformation into Oropia (Biyya-Kush).
The supposed conflict between:
- OLF’s aim: Oromo freedom and decolonization of Oromia,
- OFC’s vision: Oromo freedom and transformation to Oropia,
…is more about strategy than substance. Both camps share the same overarching objective: self-determination.
This shared goal can be broken into three sequential phases (as “series thinkers” propose, rather than “parallel thinkers” who see these paths as mutually exclusive):
- Short-term: Political, economic, and cultural autonomy of Oromia within an Amapian union.
- (Current status: cultural autonomy with limited political sovereignty)
- Middle-term: Full sovereignty and independence of Oromia.
Long-term: A voluntary union of free peoples (Oropia), akin to the European Union, where Oromia enjoys equal partnership and full autonomy.
This “series framework” suggests that these goals are not mutually exclusive, but progressive. We can move from short-term autonomy to full independence, and then to a union of equals—if the Oromo people so choose.
Train Journey or Highway Metaphor?
Consider our journey like a train ride from Djibouti (symbolizing colonization) to Diredhawa (federation), Adama (independence), and finally to Finfinne (union of free peoples—Oropia).
Or imagine a three-lane highway:
- Some elites are driving on the right lane, planning to exit at Diredhawa (federation only).
- Others drive in the middle lane to Adama (independence).
- The most visionary drive in the left lane, aiming for Finfinne (regional union).
We must allow each driver to choose their exit without causing a traffic jam. Cooperation and mutual respect are critical.
Time for Strategic Unity, Not Paradigm Shifts
Calls for a “paradigm shift” away from independence toward autonomy only reflect parallel thinking. In reality, all three goals are part of a single continuum toward self-determination. What we need is not a shift in objective, but a shift in methodology, strategy, and coordination—toward a referendum.
Let the Oromo people decide:
- Do we want to stop at Oromian autonomy (short-term)?
- Do we push for full independence (middle-term)?
-Or do we aim for a union of equals in Oropia (long-term)?
We should not let elite divisions obscure this simple truth: The people must decide. The future lies in uniting the Oromo struggle—across federalist and liberation fronts—to gain full self-determination, phase by phase.
Final Thoughts
Instead of promoting division, our elites must forge unity in action and purpose. We must support the formation of a single, powerful Oromo federalist force (likely the OFC) and one unified Oromo liberation front (the OLF). Let’s channel our resources, time, and talent into this dual structure, allowing the people to decide our end goal democratically.
Whether our journey ends in Oromia or Oropia, let it be guided by the collective will of the Oromo people—not fragmented elite agendas.
May Waaqa guide us all to the final destination—be it Diredhawa, Adama, or Finfinne—through unity, patience, and unwavering commitment.
Galatôma!
Read more: https://orompia.wordpress.com/2023/04/1 ... ly-oropia/