Dr. Abiy Must Stop Maintaining Amharic Domination and Start Fostering Oromic Leadership!
Posted: 11 Nov 2025, 01:43
Dr. Abiy Must Stop Maintaining Amharic Domination and Start Fostering Oromic Leadership!
By Fayyis Oromia*
The natural trajectory of Ethiopian politics is shifting—from a historically Amharic-dominated Ethiopia (Amapia), through a transitional “rainbow Ethiopia,” towards the establishment of Oropia, an Ethiopia led by Oromic. If Dr. Abiy wants to make a positive mark on Oromo history, he must stop maintaining Amharic domination and start promoting Oromic leadership.
The current political spectrum can be roughly divided into three main camps:
Reactionary forces, seeking to preserve over 700 years of Amharic domination. In this framework, Ethiopia remains de facto Amapia. Parties such as the EPP (Dr. Abiy), Ezema (Dr. Berhanu), NAMA (Dr. Belete), and Balderas (Eskinder Nega) represent this group. This form of Ethiopia is dying—slowly but surely.
Moderate forces, aiming to establish a balanced, rainbow Ethiopia where every language and culture can thrive without subjugating others. This idealistic vision, supported by many nationalities, may only serve as a transitional phase rather than a permanent state.
Radical democratic forces, striving to create a realistic Ethiopia led by Oromummà and guided by Oromic, thus becoming de facto Oropia. Many Oromo nationalists now understand this as a natural and necessary democratic evolution.
The first model (Amapia) can only be sustained through dictatorship. That’s why EPP and its allies like Ezema are comfortable with the current authoritarian status quo. The second (Rainbow Ethiopia) serves as a political bridge from Amapia to Oropia. The third (Oropia) represents the legitimate and democratic future of Ethiopia.
Jawar Mohammed recently emphasized the need to push this democratic transformation forward and urged Dr. Abiy to abandon his authoritarian maintenance of Amapia in favor of building a democratic Oropia.
The Prosperity Party once declared its commitment to preserving Ethiopia’s unity and territorial integrity. But the question remains: Which Ethiopia?
The old Ethiopia dominated by Amharic (Amapia)?
The transitional Rainbow Ethiopia, where each nation’s culture is respected and power is fairly shared (e.g., Oromummà 40%, Agawinet 20%, Amarigna 10%, Somalummà 6%, Tegarunet 5%, etc.)?
Or the new Ethiopia, with Oromic as the federation’s primary language and Oromummà in leadership—de facto Oropia?
While the Rainbow model is ideal in theory, in practice, the tension between the two major identities (Amaranet and Oromummà) means it cannot be permanent. Other minority identities will naturally assimilate depending on which of the two dominant cultures is in power. Currently, with Amharigna in a dictatorial position of dominance, other cultures are being absorbed into Amaranet. Once Oromic assumes a rightful leading role, the others will naturally be influenced by Oromummà.
Metaphorically, Ethiopian identity is shaped by two opposing forces: white (Amaranet) and black (Oromummà). In Oromo culture, black symbolizes holiness, in contrast to its negative Western interpretation. Today, Ethiopia is gray—a mixture of these influences. Before the rise of the OLF 50 years ago, the country was pure white. Thanks to the OLF’s vision of Bilisummà (freedom), the country is slowly becoming more Oromo. At present, I estimate the identity balance as 60% Amaranet and 40% Oromumma. This must shift, ideally to a Rainbow Ethiopia (40% Oromummà, 10% Amaranet, and 50% others). If balance is impossible, we must at least reverse the gray shade to 40% Amaranet and 60% Oromummà.
Unfortunately, Dr. Abiy and his Prosperity Party seem more focused on preserving Amapia than forging either a Rainbow Ethiopia or Oropia.
The primary divide between pro-Amaranet elites (like Dr. Abiy) and pro-Oromummà elites (like Dr. Haile Fida) is not about federation type (geo-federalism vs. ethno-federalism), but rather language dominance. No two languages can equally serve federal institutions such as the presidency, parliament, cabinet, military, security services, or judiciary. One language must either dominate (authoritarianism) or lead (democracy). In Dr. Abiy’s Ethiopia, Amharigna dominates. He seems content with Oromic secondary status—evident even on his Facebook page, where Amharic always comes first, followed by English or Oromic.
This self-denying pattern has persisted from Yekuno Amlak (1270) to Abiy Ahmed. We hope this will change through the struggle led by true pro-Oromo intellectuals like Dr. Haile Fida (a mono-national federalist) and Dr. Baro Tumsa (a multi-national federalist). For the Oromo majority, either federal model is acceptable—as long as Oromic takes its rightful place as the leading language.
The Oromo liberation movement is now in its third and final phase:
- In the first phase, we defeated the Amhara unitarists in 1991.
- In the second, we removed the Tigrayan ruling class in 2018.
- Now, we face Oromo collaborators led by Dr. Abiy, who are perpetuating Amharic domination.
The common trait among all three “Naftagna” forces (Amhara, Tigray, and Oromo) is their dictatorial promotion of Amharic at the expense of Oromic and Oromummà. While it’s unsurprising from Abyssinians, it’s deeply disappointing to see Oromo elites under Dr. Abiy betray their people by elevating Amharic and sidelining Oromic.
If democracy and justice prevail, Oromic and Oromummà will naturally take the lead, and Oromic will become the federal working language, replacing Amharic. Amhara elites and other Amharanized figures understand this, which is why they resist Ethiopia’s democratic transition from Amapia to Oropia. But Jawar Mohammed’s vision of a democratic federation will fulfill that mission—on the grave of Abiy Ahmed’s authoritarian model, which merely extends the TPLF’s pseudo-federalism led by the anti-Oromo OPDO.
I once believed that Abyssinian-dominated Ethiopia (ADE or Athiopia) was dying and that Oromian-led Ethiopia (OLE or Othiopia) was rising. But it appears Dr. Abiy is working to preserve Athiopia rather than create Othiopia. In reality, there is no middle ground. Ethiopia will either remain dominated by Amaranet or transform into a federation led by Oromummà.
At the start of the reform movement led by Team Lammaa, Athiopia began to fade, and Othiopia began to grow. The Abesha began resenting Ethiopia, while the Oromo began embracing it. We effectively buried the old, anti-Oromo Ethiopia and are now building a pro-Oromo future. We had hoped Abyssinian Ethiopia would never return and that Oromo-led Ethiopia would thrive for generations. But Dr. Abiy’s transitional Ethiopia still smells more like Athiopia than Othiopia.
Until 1991, the Oromo justifiably hated Ethiopia, the Tigrayans were indifferent, and the Amhara loved it. Between 1991 and 2018, Tigrayans loved it, the Oromo were ambivalent, and the Amhara rejected it. Now, under Abiy’s Oromo-Naftagna leadership, the Tigrayans hate Ethiopia, the Amhara are indifferent, and the Oromo are starting to love it—because the future democratic Ethiopia looks increasingly like Oromia.
Even the Amhara are now on the verge of rejecting this new Ethiopia, despite their traditional Ethiopianist rhetoric. Tigrayan elites, having lost power in Finfinne, will try to dismantle an Oromo-led Ethiopia. But the Oromo have every reason to embrace and preserve it. The Amhara may eventually opt to leave the union, as the Tigrayans have done.
The name Ethiopia is simply a trademark. Whoever holds power at Caffee Araara can use it. I have always encouraged Oromo elites to strategically own the name “Ethiopia” rather than fixate only on “Oromia.” Fortunately, many Oromo leaders now understand this and are using the name effectively.
Dr. Abiy will pay the price for trying to preserve Athiopia. He is losing Oromo support while Abesha elites use and discard him. He would do well to return to Team Lemmà and build Othiopia on Athiopia’s grave.
It is also encouraging to see Cushitic peoples uniting to assert leadership in Ethiopia. This region—from southern Egypt to northern Tanzania—is the Cushitic heartland. The Oromo, as the largest Cushitic group, now have a unique chance to lead culturally, economically, and politically in the Horn of Africa. The true Ethiopians—the Cushites—must rise to replace the domination system enforced by the pseudo-Ethiopians (the Habesha).
Ironically, the Habesha claim to be the true Ethiopians while denying their Cushitic roots. If they are not Cushitic, they cannot claim the 3000-year-old legacy of Cushitic civilization. They instead identify with a hybrid (Habesh) origin, based on the Saba-Solomon myth. Even their revered foundational figure, Menelik I, is described as a diqala ([deleted])—a supposed son of Queen Sheba and King Solomon. This narrative of mixed origin has been used not only as cultural mythology but as a tool for hegemony.
Historically, the West supported this myth to empower the Habesha elites as colonial proxies over other Cushitic peoples. To obscure their true colonial role, Western powers advised them to adopt the name “Ethiopia” rather than the more accurate “Abyssinia.” Like black-market dealers rebranding stolen goods, the Habesha began to call themselves true Ethiopians while simultaneously denying others that label. They took it upon themselves to declare who is Ethiopian and who is not—as if they were issuing identity certificates.
But the time has come for true Ethiopians—the Cushites—to rise up and reclaim their historical identity and rightful place in the region. Until recently, Abyssinians acted as colonizers within the so-called Ethiopian Empire. Today, all historically marginalized groups—especially the Cushites—are rising up together to liberate themselves from centuries of Abyssinian domination.
To solidify this liberation, organizations such as the ODF (Oromo Democratic Front) and the OLF (Oromo Liberation Front) must go beyond regional politics. They should work toward establishing inclusive national coalitions like the EDF (Ethiopian Democratic Front) and ELF (Ethiopian Liberation Front)—platforms that unite all Cushitic nations to fight together against the lingering colonial structure imposed by the Habesha ruling elite.
This historical struggle—between fake colonizer-Ethiopians and colonized true Ethiopians—will only end when Ethiopia is fully freed from Abyssinian hegemony. The final chapter of this story will be written when Oromian-led Ethiopia (Othiopia) flourishes on the grave of Abyssinian-dominated Ethiopia (Athiopia).
Such a transformation won’t just change Ethiopia—it will redefine the Horn of Africa. A genuinely Cushitic Ethiopia would serve as a beacon of unity and empowerment for all Cushitic nations in the region. It would become a political, cultural, and economic engine for integration across the Horn, stretching from southern Egypt to northern Tanzania.
Finfinné—as the heart of Oromia, capital of Ethiopia, and seat of the African Union—has the potential to become a symbol of Cushitic civilization, unity, and pride. But the central question remains:
Is Dr. Abiy preserving Abyssinian-Dominated Ethiopia (ADE), or is he promoting Oromian-Led Ethiopia (OLE)?
Time will tell. But based on the facts on the ground—where Amharic and Amaranet still dominate in the palace, the capital city, and parliament—it appears that ADE is being preserved at the cost of OLE.
If Dr. Abiy is unaware of this reality, may Wàqa open his eyes and guide him. If he is knowingly choosing this path, then the Oromo people must look elsewhere—perhaps to Jawar Mohammed’s democratic federation, where Oromic and Oromummà will naturally take their rightful, leading position in the Ethiopian federation.
Galatôma!
Read more: https://orompia.wordpress.com/2023/03/1 ... at-oromia/
By Fayyis Oromia*
The natural trajectory of Ethiopian politics is shifting—from a historically Amharic-dominated Ethiopia (Amapia), through a transitional “rainbow Ethiopia,” towards the establishment of Oropia, an Ethiopia led by Oromic. If Dr. Abiy wants to make a positive mark on Oromo history, he must stop maintaining Amharic domination and start promoting Oromic leadership.
The current political spectrum can be roughly divided into three main camps:
Reactionary forces, seeking to preserve over 700 years of Amharic domination. In this framework, Ethiopia remains de facto Amapia. Parties such as the EPP (Dr. Abiy), Ezema (Dr. Berhanu), NAMA (Dr. Belete), and Balderas (Eskinder Nega) represent this group. This form of Ethiopia is dying—slowly but surely.
Moderate forces, aiming to establish a balanced, rainbow Ethiopia where every language and culture can thrive without subjugating others. This idealistic vision, supported by many nationalities, may only serve as a transitional phase rather than a permanent state.
Radical democratic forces, striving to create a realistic Ethiopia led by Oromummà and guided by Oromic, thus becoming de facto Oropia. Many Oromo nationalists now understand this as a natural and necessary democratic evolution.
The first model (Amapia) can only be sustained through dictatorship. That’s why EPP and its allies like Ezema are comfortable with the current authoritarian status quo. The second (Rainbow Ethiopia) serves as a political bridge from Amapia to Oropia. The third (Oropia) represents the legitimate and democratic future of Ethiopia.
Jawar Mohammed recently emphasized the need to push this democratic transformation forward and urged Dr. Abiy to abandon his authoritarian maintenance of Amapia in favor of building a democratic Oropia.
The Prosperity Party once declared its commitment to preserving Ethiopia’s unity and territorial integrity. But the question remains: Which Ethiopia?
The old Ethiopia dominated by Amharic (Amapia)?
The transitional Rainbow Ethiopia, where each nation’s culture is respected and power is fairly shared (e.g., Oromummà 40%, Agawinet 20%, Amarigna 10%, Somalummà 6%, Tegarunet 5%, etc.)?
Or the new Ethiopia, with Oromic as the federation’s primary language and Oromummà in leadership—de facto Oropia?
While the Rainbow model is ideal in theory, in practice, the tension between the two major identities (Amaranet and Oromummà) means it cannot be permanent. Other minority identities will naturally assimilate depending on which of the two dominant cultures is in power. Currently, with Amharigna in a dictatorial position of dominance, other cultures are being absorbed into Amaranet. Once Oromic assumes a rightful leading role, the others will naturally be influenced by Oromummà.
Metaphorically, Ethiopian identity is shaped by two opposing forces: white (Amaranet) and black (Oromummà). In Oromo culture, black symbolizes holiness, in contrast to its negative Western interpretation. Today, Ethiopia is gray—a mixture of these influences. Before the rise of the OLF 50 years ago, the country was pure white. Thanks to the OLF’s vision of Bilisummà (freedom), the country is slowly becoming more Oromo. At present, I estimate the identity balance as 60% Amaranet and 40% Oromumma. This must shift, ideally to a Rainbow Ethiopia (40% Oromummà, 10% Amaranet, and 50% others). If balance is impossible, we must at least reverse the gray shade to 40% Amaranet and 60% Oromummà.
Unfortunately, Dr. Abiy and his Prosperity Party seem more focused on preserving Amapia than forging either a Rainbow Ethiopia or Oropia.
The primary divide between pro-Amaranet elites (like Dr. Abiy) and pro-Oromummà elites (like Dr. Haile Fida) is not about federation type (geo-federalism vs. ethno-federalism), but rather language dominance. No two languages can equally serve federal institutions such as the presidency, parliament, cabinet, military, security services, or judiciary. One language must either dominate (authoritarianism) or lead (democracy). In Dr. Abiy’s Ethiopia, Amharigna dominates. He seems content with Oromic secondary status—evident even on his Facebook page, where Amharic always comes first, followed by English or Oromic.
This self-denying pattern has persisted from Yekuno Amlak (1270) to Abiy Ahmed. We hope this will change through the struggle led by true pro-Oromo intellectuals like Dr. Haile Fida (a mono-national federalist) and Dr. Baro Tumsa (a multi-national federalist). For the Oromo majority, either federal model is acceptable—as long as Oromic takes its rightful place as the leading language.
The Oromo liberation movement is now in its third and final phase:
- In the first phase, we defeated the Amhara unitarists in 1991.
- In the second, we removed the Tigrayan ruling class in 2018.
- Now, we face Oromo collaborators led by Dr. Abiy, who are perpetuating Amharic domination.
The common trait among all three “Naftagna” forces (Amhara, Tigray, and Oromo) is their dictatorial promotion of Amharic at the expense of Oromic and Oromummà. While it’s unsurprising from Abyssinians, it’s deeply disappointing to see Oromo elites under Dr. Abiy betray their people by elevating Amharic and sidelining Oromic.
If democracy and justice prevail, Oromic and Oromummà will naturally take the lead, and Oromic will become the federal working language, replacing Amharic. Amhara elites and other Amharanized figures understand this, which is why they resist Ethiopia’s democratic transition from Amapia to Oropia. But Jawar Mohammed’s vision of a democratic federation will fulfill that mission—on the grave of Abiy Ahmed’s authoritarian model, which merely extends the TPLF’s pseudo-federalism led by the anti-Oromo OPDO.
I once believed that Abyssinian-dominated Ethiopia (ADE or Athiopia) was dying and that Oromian-led Ethiopia (OLE or Othiopia) was rising. But it appears Dr. Abiy is working to preserve Athiopia rather than create Othiopia. In reality, there is no middle ground. Ethiopia will either remain dominated by Amaranet or transform into a federation led by Oromummà.
At the start of the reform movement led by Team Lammaa, Athiopia began to fade, and Othiopia began to grow. The Abesha began resenting Ethiopia, while the Oromo began embracing it. We effectively buried the old, anti-Oromo Ethiopia and are now building a pro-Oromo future. We had hoped Abyssinian Ethiopia would never return and that Oromo-led Ethiopia would thrive for generations. But Dr. Abiy’s transitional Ethiopia still smells more like Athiopia than Othiopia.
Until 1991, the Oromo justifiably hated Ethiopia, the Tigrayans were indifferent, and the Amhara loved it. Between 1991 and 2018, Tigrayans loved it, the Oromo were ambivalent, and the Amhara rejected it. Now, under Abiy’s Oromo-Naftagna leadership, the Tigrayans hate Ethiopia, the Amhara are indifferent, and the Oromo are starting to love it—because the future democratic Ethiopia looks increasingly like Oromia.
Even the Amhara are now on the verge of rejecting this new Ethiopia, despite their traditional Ethiopianist rhetoric. Tigrayan elites, having lost power in Finfinne, will try to dismantle an Oromo-led Ethiopia. But the Oromo have every reason to embrace and preserve it. The Amhara may eventually opt to leave the union, as the Tigrayans have done.
The name Ethiopia is simply a trademark. Whoever holds power at Caffee Araara can use it. I have always encouraged Oromo elites to strategically own the name “Ethiopia” rather than fixate only on “Oromia.” Fortunately, many Oromo leaders now understand this and are using the name effectively.
Dr. Abiy will pay the price for trying to preserve Athiopia. He is losing Oromo support while Abesha elites use and discard him. He would do well to return to Team Lemmà and build Othiopia on Athiopia’s grave.
It is also encouraging to see Cushitic peoples uniting to assert leadership in Ethiopia. This region—from southern Egypt to northern Tanzania—is the Cushitic heartland. The Oromo, as the largest Cushitic group, now have a unique chance to lead culturally, economically, and politically in the Horn of Africa. The true Ethiopians—the Cushites—must rise to replace the domination system enforced by the pseudo-Ethiopians (the Habesha).
Ironically, the Habesha claim to be the true Ethiopians while denying their Cushitic roots. If they are not Cushitic, they cannot claim the 3000-year-old legacy of Cushitic civilization. They instead identify with a hybrid (Habesh) origin, based on the Saba-Solomon myth. Even their revered foundational figure, Menelik I, is described as a diqala ([deleted])—a supposed son of Queen Sheba and King Solomon. This narrative of mixed origin has been used not only as cultural mythology but as a tool for hegemony.
Historically, the West supported this myth to empower the Habesha elites as colonial proxies over other Cushitic peoples. To obscure their true colonial role, Western powers advised them to adopt the name “Ethiopia” rather than the more accurate “Abyssinia.” Like black-market dealers rebranding stolen goods, the Habesha began to call themselves true Ethiopians while simultaneously denying others that label. They took it upon themselves to declare who is Ethiopian and who is not—as if they were issuing identity certificates.
But the time has come for true Ethiopians—the Cushites—to rise up and reclaim their historical identity and rightful place in the region. Until recently, Abyssinians acted as colonizers within the so-called Ethiopian Empire. Today, all historically marginalized groups—especially the Cushites—are rising up together to liberate themselves from centuries of Abyssinian domination.
To solidify this liberation, organizations such as the ODF (Oromo Democratic Front) and the OLF (Oromo Liberation Front) must go beyond regional politics. They should work toward establishing inclusive national coalitions like the EDF (Ethiopian Democratic Front) and ELF (Ethiopian Liberation Front)—platforms that unite all Cushitic nations to fight together against the lingering colonial structure imposed by the Habesha ruling elite.
This historical struggle—between fake colonizer-Ethiopians and colonized true Ethiopians—will only end when Ethiopia is fully freed from Abyssinian hegemony. The final chapter of this story will be written when Oromian-led Ethiopia (Othiopia) flourishes on the grave of Abyssinian-dominated Ethiopia (Athiopia).
Such a transformation won’t just change Ethiopia—it will redefine the Horn of Africa. A genuinely Cushitic Ethiopia would serve as a beacon of unity and empowerment for all Cushitic nations in the region. It would become a political, cultural, and economic engine for integration across the Horn, stretching from southern Egypt to northern Tanzania.
Finfinné—as the heart of Oromia, capital of Ethiopia, and seat of the African Union—has the potential to become a symbol of Cushitic civilization, unity, and pride. But the central question remains:
Is Dr. Abiy preserving Abyssinian-Dominated Ethiopia (ADE), or is he promoting Oromian-Led Ethiopia (OLE)?
Time will tell. But based on the facts on the ground—where Amharic and Amaranet still dominate in the palace, the capital city, and parliament—it appears that ADE is being preserved at the cost of OLE.
If Dr. Abiy is unaware of this reality, may Wàqa open his eyes and guide him. If he is knowingly choosing this path, then the Oromo people must look elsewhere—perhaps to Jawar Mohammed’s democratic federation, where Oromic and Oromummà will naturally take their rightful, leading position in the Ethiopian federation.
Galatôma!
Read more: https://orompia.wordpress.com/2023/03/1 ... at-oromia/