Mereja.Forum

[OPFist]

The Imperative of Oromic Leadership in Ethiopia

By Fayyis Oropia

At a critical juncture in Ethiopia’s contemporary history, the country once again finds itself at a political crossroads. In this moment of profound uncertainty, Oromo political elites face a historic responsibility: to ensure that both the ruling establishment and the opposition are guided by Oromo leadership. Equally important is the need for vigilance within the opposition to ensure that it does not become a vehicle for the restoration of an anti-Oromo, Abyssinian authoritarian order.

Above all, however, the central issue is not merely Oromo leadership but Oromic-language leadership within the federation. Individuals of Oromo origin have, in many cases, occupied the highest positions of state since the era of Yekuno Amlak in the thirteenth century. Yet they have consistently adopted Amharic, rather than Oromic, as the language of governance and administration. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his administration continue this pattern.

It is therefore the responsibility of genuine Oromo nationalists to reverse this historical trend by promoting Oromic as the principal working and leading languages of the Ethiopian federation. Lasting political representation requires not only Oromo leaders but also the institutional recognition and practical use of the Oromic language at the highest levels of federal government.

The Consolidation of Two Oromo-Led Political Camps
Current political dynamics in Ethiopia suggest an emerging consolidation around two principal political camps, both led by Oromo elites:

The Democratic Opposition, shaped largely by the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) tradition of sovereignty and self-determination.
The Incumbent Camp, represented by the Prosperity Party, rooted in the OPDO political culture.
Other political actors increasingly appear compelled to align with one of these two blocs, as no credible third political force currently exists that can effectively challenge state power concentrated in Finfinne (Addis Ababa).

For political elites aligned with pro-Amharic domination, this dichotomy presents an acute dilemma, as both camps are perceived as adversarial. In contrast, for proponents of Oromic-led political transformation, Dr. Lemma Megersa represents a more viable alternative. This perception is reinforced by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s failure to advance core Oromo demands—most notably, the elevation of Oromic to the status of the primary federal working language—thereby raising questions about his commitment to Oromo political aspirations.

A Pragmatic Vision for Oropia
From a pragmatic standpoint, a future Oromic-led geo-federal polity—often referred to as Oropia—would require the presence of two dominant political forces:

The Prosperity Party, which has demonstrated a willingness to preserve Amharic as the primary federal working language, even at the expense of Oromic.
A Republican Political Party, to be established by pro-Oromic organizations, committed to deepening federalism and securing Oromic’s rightful status as the primary federal language.
The fundamental distinction between the Ethiopian Prosperity Party (EPP) and a prospective Ethiopian Republican Party (ERP) lies not only in their respective constitutional visions—geo-federation versus confederation—but more decisively in their ideological orientations. The EPP embodies a pro-Amharic-dominance framework, whereas the ERP would articulate a pro-Oromic-leadership paradigm. In this regard, Oromo political organizations should work collectively to establish a broad-based, inclusive republican party capable of challenging the incumbent regime through democratic means—or, if unavoidable, through armed resistance.

Two Principal Lines of Political Opposition
Empirical realities on the ground indicate the existence of two major opposition trajectories in Ethiopia:

The Multi-National Federation (Confederation) Line, often regarded as a transitional stage toward an independent Oromia. This path is advocated by moderate Oromo republicans, who pursue full Oromian independence.
The Multi-Regional Federation (Geo-Federation) Line, which envisions an integrative and democratic Ethiopia—namely, Oropia. This approach is supported by reformist nationalists within the Oromo Prosperity Party, some of whom seek to dismantle ethnic federalism altogether.
Any political force genuinely advocating democratization in Ethiopia is, whether intentionally or not, contributing to the gradual transformation of the state toward Oropia.

Shared Commitments: Freedom, Democracy, and Self-Determination
Despite their ideological differences, both opposition lines converge on essential values: liberation from authoritarian rule, the establishment of democracy, and the recognition of the people’s right to decide their political future through a referendum. Removing the incumbent regime represents the first phase—freedom—while the subsequent challenge lies in consolidating democratic governance.

Neither an independent Oromia nor an integrative Oropia is inherently detrimental to the Oromo people. Historical precedent demonstrates this compatibility. Under divine providence (Wàqa), Oromo political forces with divergent visions once united to dismantle the TPLF regime, widely regarded as one of the most repressive in Ethiopia’s history. That experience underscores the necessity for renewed cooperation between the two ideological currents in opposing the current Biltsigina-led authoritarian system.

The formation of the Ethiopian National Movement (ENM) exemplified this principle. Despite ideological differences, its constituent groups agreed to jointly confront TPLF authoritarianism and to defer the final determination of Ethiopia’s political structure to the people through a referendum.

Distinguishing Dictatorship from Democracy
A clear analytical distinction must be drawn between:

Dictatorial Forces:
- Pseudo-Ethio-federalists seeking to resurrect the assimilationist state of the Derg era.
- Pseudo-ethno-federalists attempting to revive the apartheid-like system associated with the Woyane regime.
and
Democratic Forces:
- Those operating within the two genuine opposition lines who seek to construct an inclusive, democratic polity in which all nations and citizens are free and equal.

Toward a Democratic Political Order
In a future democratic Ethiopia, particularly from an Oromo perspective, only two major political organizations are necessary:
- Prosperitans, advocating geo-federalism toward a unified Oropia.
- Republicans, promoting confederation with the long-term objective of an independent Oromia.

Both must commit to pursuing their visions through democratic processes, in contrast to ethno-nationalist and centralist dictators who rely on violence and coercion. The Prosperity Party already occupies the geo-federalist space. To ensure political balance, all republican-oriented Oromo organizations should seriously consider unifying under a single, strong Ethiopian Republican Party.

May Wàqa guide Ethiopia’s political leaders to transcend ego-driven divisions and work collectively in the service of the Oromo people and all nations within Ethiopia.

Galatòma!
Read more: https://orompia.wordpress.com/2018/08/2 ... publicans/

[OPFist]

At a critical juncture in Ethiopia’s contemporary history, the country once again finds itself at a political crossroads. In this moment of profound uncertainty, Oromo political elites face a historic responsibility: to ensure that both the ruling establishment and the opposition are guided by Oromo leadership. Equally important is the need for vigilance within the opposition to ensure that it does not become a vehicle for the restoration of an anti-Oromo, Abyssinian authoritarian order.