Pro-Oromummà Elites Outmaneuver Pro-Amharanet Elites in Biltsigina Party: A Turning Point in Ethiopian Politics
By Fayyis Oromia*
It appears that after years of intense internal struggle, pro-Oromummà elites in Biltsigina are now gaining the upper hand. The shift comes after several years of political upheaval, much of it sparked by the Qérrô movement and the broader context of the 2018 political changes. At the time, Team Lammà, particularly Abiy Ahmed and his family, entered the political arena donning traditional Oromo attire, leading many to believe that Dr. Abiy would champion the Oromo cause and emerge as the “Baro Tumsa” of the century.
Unfortunately, Dr. Abiy’s actions have contradicted these early hopes. Rather than advancing the Oromo cause, he opted to maintain the status quo of an Amharanet-dominated Ethiopia. The Amhara elites, who had initially supported him, used his government to suppress both Oromo and Tigrayan nationalists. Dr. Abiy’s alliance with the Amhara elites ultimately led to his betrayal of genuine Oromo and Tigrayan activists, fueling a backlash among Oromo nationalists. However, despite all efforts to appease the Amhara bloc, Dr. Abiy’s Oromo heritage made him inherently distrustful to them, prompting a conspiracy to undermine his leadership, including through movements such as Fànno.
In a striking twist, this political chaos provided a significant opportunity for Oromo nationalists to unite under key organizations like the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC), the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), and the Oromo People’s Party (OPP), consolidating efforts to defend the rights of Oromos and the integrity of Oromia. The Fànno movement has been effectively crushed, posing no further threat to the Oromo cause. With little political support left from the Amhara elites, Dr. Abiy appears to be returning to his Oromo constituency, where he may now be compelled to promote Oromic as the primary national language, replacing Amharic. It seems that, at last, the pro-Oromummà elites within the Biltsigina Party have outmaneuvered the pro-Amharanet faction.
Historic Context: Amharanet vs. Oromummà
The central political conflict in Ethiopia has historically revolved around two competing identities: Amharanet and Oromummà. The establishment of Amharic as the Lisane Nigus (language of the King) by ruling Oromo elites, including Emperor Yekuno Amlak, marked the onset of a lengthy period where Amharic was established as the royal language, symbolizing prestige and power. In contrast, Oromic was viewed as the language of the common people, particularly farmers.
This hierarchical division between Amharic and Oromic has persisted through centuries of Ethiopian history, with successive ruling elites prioritizing Amharic while sidelining the Oromo language. Dr. Abiy’s hybrid regime has continued this trend, maintaining Amharic as the dominant language of power while relegating Oromic to a secondary role. Even among Oromo elites, there has been a reluctance to promote Oromic as the working language of government, parliament, military, judiciary, and media.
The Political Landscape: Divided Forces
Contemporary Ethiopian politics is divided into two primary blocs:
The Pro-Amharanet Bloc, which includes:
- Most Amhara organizations
- Ethiopianist parties that implicitly support Amharanet
- Certain Oromo organizations with Amharanet leanings that revere Amharic and marginalize Oromiffaa
The Pro-Oromummà Bloc, which includes:
- Oromo nationalists committed to the promotion of Oromic
- Other national groups, such as Tigrayans, that are fighting for national self-determination
Despite leading three major revolutions, the Oromo have yet 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: The pro-Amharanet OPDO (Oromo People’s Democratic Organization) displaced the OLF (Oromo Liberation Front), despite overwhelming popular Oromo support for the latter.
- 2018: Dr. Abiy’s OPP, which leaned toward Amharanet, began persecuting pro-Oromummà figures such as those in OFC and OLF, while the Oromo masses remained largely passive.
The Opportunity for Unity
In all three instances, the Oromo masses initially supported pro-Oromummà leaders but withdrew in the face of subsequent crackdowns. It is crucial to ask: Are we inadvertently sabotaging our own cause? The Amhara elites have long benefitted from the Oromo’s political disunity.
The fundamental distinction between OLF/OFC and OPP lies in their stance on the national language. OLF and OFC regard Oromic as the rightful working language of the Ethiopian federation, owing to the Oromo people’s majority status. Conversely, Dr. Abiy’s OPP continues to prioritize Amharic, sidelining Oromic.
The Journey of Oromo Liberation
The symbolic journey of Oromo liberation follows a series of stages:
- Djibouti – Colonial oppression
- Ayisha – Cultural autonomy (current phase)
- Dire Dawa – True federalism
- Adama – Oromia’s independence
- Finfinne – Union of free nations
Having moved from Djibouti to Ayisha, the next steps must be towards Dire Dawa, and eventually, Adama or Finfinne, depending on the verdict of the people.
Strategic Action Points for the Future
To advance the cause of Oromo liberation, several strategic actions are necessary:
- Public Level: There must be widespread education and mobilization of the grassroots toward unity and national goals.
- Media Level: It is essential to encourage constructive dialogue and expose misinformation, especially when it is disguised under the guise of Oromo identity.
- Polity Level: Consolidating smaller organizations into a united front, ideally under a reformed OLF, will strengthen the political movement.
Alliances and the Road Ahead
Collaboration with Abironet (federalist) forces may be necessary to reach Dire Dawa, but the journey towards Adama and Finfinne will require alliances with Arinet (independence-focused) forces. The Andinet bloc seeks to reverse the journey, while the Abiyotawi bloc, represented by groups like the TPLF, may attempt to keep the Oromo at Ayisha.
Recent dialogues between OPP and OLF hint at the possibility of forming an anti-dominance alliance, which could ultimately dismantle Amharanet’s dominance over Ethiopia. This is a critical juncture in Ethiopian politics, and should this opportunity be squandered, history will undoubtedly judge it harshly.
Conclusion: Unity for Freedom
The solution to Ethiopia’s long-standing national dilemma lies in the unity of the Oromo people. If the pro-Oromummà elites within OPP can successfully confront and defeat the pro-Amharanet elements within their ranks, and work alongside organizations like OFC and OLF, the path to liberation will be within reach. Oromic deserves to be recognized as Ethiopia’s primary language—not just within Oromia, but in the palace, parliament, and throughout the nation. When this happens, Oromic will no longer be considered a “primitive” language but will instead be celebrated as a language of prestige and progress.
May Wàqa guide and empower the Oromo people.
Galatôma!
Read more: https://orompia.wordpress.com/2023/01/0 ... -and-2018/