Bilisummà Before Biltsiginna: The Primacy of Freedom in the Oromo National Struggle
By Fayyis Oromia*
It is a fundamental principle that bilisummà (freedom) must precede biltsiginna (prosperity) in the Oromo national project. This principle is so intrinsic that it is reflected even in the Oromo dictionary itself. Yet, a segment of Oromo political elites aligned with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Prosperity Party (EPP) has attempted to reverse this natural order. They argue that freedom has already been achieved and that the Oromo people should now focus primarily on economic development.
Like many others, I initially accepted this argument during the first two years of Abiy Ahmed’s administration. At the time, it seemed implausible that a leader who emerged from Oromo protest movements would later undermine the very cause that elevated him to power. However, subsequent developments revealed a troubling reality: Oromo sacrifices and hard-won political gains were gradually traded away to forces representing a renewed Neo-Naftagna political order.
History offers sobering parallels. The Oromo people experienced several moments of political optimism before each was followed by repression and marginalization: the early alliance between MEISON and the Derg under Mengistu Haile Mariam, the transitional period preceding the suppression of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) under Meles Zenawi, and most recently, the initial reform period under Abiy Ahmed. In each case, it took time for the Oromo public to recognize that Oromo political actors were being sidelined, imprisoned, or co-opted in order to preserve an Amharic-dominated political system at the expense of Oromiffa and Oromo self-determination.
Despite leading three major revolutionary movements in modern Ethiopian history—often at immense human cost—the Oromo have yet to secure lasting freedom or sovereignty. This recurring failure demands serious reflection. Why have these movements not achieved their ultimate objectives, and what strategic direction is required to secure enduring bilisummà and walabummà (sovereignty)?
The Oromo Struggle as a Liberation Movement
As argued in earlier analyses, the Oromo national movement remains fundamentally a liberation struggle against Abyssinian colonial domination and its local collaborators, sustained by regional and global power structures. This struggle unfolds across diplomatic, military, and political domains. In an international system often governed by power rather than principle, Oromo liberation can only be realized through the systematic empowerment of the Oromo people themselves.
Central to this empowerment is unity of purpose among Oromo liberation forces. The movement has reached a critical juncture, where fragmentation poses an existential threat. The strategic objective of unity is not merely symbolic; it is to secure Oromo political power at the center of state authority, represented by Finfinne. The question, therefore, is not whether unity is necessary, but how it should be defined and operationalized.
James Wilson described unity of purpose as “the blending of primary and derivative responsibilities into a common pursuit,” while Alexander Hamilton emphasized that such unity generates the political energy required for liberty and national stability. Wilson further observed that human societies oscillate between forces that create disorder when confronted with order and forces that impose order when faced with chaos. In such conditions, unity of purpose enables constructive forces to prevail.
Even global leaders have underscored this principle. At an African Union summit, a President of the United Nations once remarked that “through unity of purpose, there is no limit to what we can achieve.” This insight highlights the indispensable role of national and supranational unity in political transformation.
Among Oromo nationalists, this principle is expressed as tokkummà for bilisummà—unity for freedom. Unity must precede victory, just as it precedes prosperity. Oromo liberation forces must integrate their diverse roles into a shared pursuit of Oromo freedom and Oromo sovereignty. When combined with the collective will to effect change, unity of purpose can generate the strength necessary to stabilize and empower the Oromo political bloc.
Unity Versus Division in the Oromo Struggle
The Oromo national movement is shaped by the same tension identified by Wilson: the struggle between forces of unity and forces of division. Some Oromo actors seek to repair fragmentation and consolidate collective strength, while opposing forces deliberately sow discord whenever unity begins to emerge.
These forces are fundamentally antagonistic. One aims to advance liberation; the other seeks to undermine it. A politically conscious Oromo public must be able to distinguish between these camps in order to reinforce unity and resist Neo-Naftagna strategies designed to preserve imperial dominance.
Contemporary political conflict in Oromiyaa/Ethiopia can thus be understood as a contest between two principal forces:
- Neo-Naftagna forces, which seek to weaken Oromo political power through fragmentation and conflict.
- Oromo nationalist forces, which work to heal internal divisions and consolidate Oromo unity.
While unity does not require the existence of a single organization, unity of purpose is non-negotiable. Division has long been the primary instrument of colonial control, and it remains the most effective weapon deployed against the Oromo today.
Division as Strategy: The AME Principle
One of the most effective tools employed by divisive forces is what may be described as the AME strategy: Antagonize, Moralize, and Emotionalize.
- Antagonize by framing two legitimate political goals as mutually exclusive, such as Oromo autonomy within an Ethiopian framework versus Oromo independence within a broader African union.
- Moralize by portraying one option as righteous and the other as immoral.
- Emotionalize by encouraging irrational hostility toward one position and uncritical loyalty to the other.
In practice, these tactics have fueled Amhara–Oromo conflict, intensified internal Amhara divisions, and exacerbated Oromo–Oromo discord—thereby preventing the emergence of a unified political force capable of challenging EPP dominance or reclaiming Finfinne.
To counter these strategies, Oromo nationalists and all anti-EPP forces must commit to promoting Oromo unity, refraining from opposing unity among other oppressed groups, and remaining open to strategic alliances grounded in mutual respect.
The Five-Color Roadmap to Liberation
The trajectory of Oromo liberation can be conceptualized through a five-color roadmap inspired by the symbolism of the Abbaa Gadaa and OLF flags. Each color represents a historical or strategic stage in the journey from colonization to full sovereignty:
- White Amaria: A centralized, unitary Ethiopian state dominated by Amharic political culture—an order Neo-Naftagna forces seek to restore.
- Yellow Amarpia: TPLF-era pseudo-federalism, characterized by nominal autonomy under continued Amharic domination.
- Green Confepia: Genuine Oromo autonomy/independence within a confederation of free nations.
- Red Orompia: An Oromic-led ethnic federation.
- Black Oropia: A supranational Union—an Oromic-led geopolitical federation in the Horn of Africa.
These stages are not mutually exclusive but sequential and complementary. The OLF’s green and red colors reflect this continuum. Progress requires cooperation across stages, particularly among forces operating within the green, red, and black visions.
Accordingly, the various organizational expressions of the Oromo movement—OLF, OFC, OLA, and OPP—should be understood as tactical variations within a shared strategic horizon. The decisive factor is not structural uniformity but unity of purpose directed toward bilisummà and walabummà.
Beyond Unity: Additional Requirements
Unity of purpose must be accompanied by tangible commitments, including:
- Investment of time, resources, and expertise
- Strengthening the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA)
- Strategic diplomacy to gain international support
- Internal resilience against disinformation and coercion
In practice, unity may also emerge through empowerment. As one organization gains strength, others may naturally converge around it, forming a gravitational center of national unity. Individuals should therefore engage with the organization that best reflects their convictions while remaining committed to strengthening the Oromo collective.
Conclusion
The path forward lies in tokkummà for bilisummà—unity for freedom. Through unity of purpose, the Oromo can overcome divisive strategies and confront Neo-Naftagna domination. As history and global experience demonstrate, unity is not merely a moral ideal but a strategic necessity.
May Wàqa guide and strengthen the Oromo people through unity of purpose and lead them toward lasting freedom and sovereignty.
Galatôma
Read more:https://orompia.wordpress.com/2017/01/1 ... r-victory/
Re: Bilisummà Before Biltsiginna: The Primacy of Freedom in the Oromo National Struggle
t is a fundamental principle that bilisummà (freedom) must precede biltsiginna (prosperity) in the Oromo national project. This principle is so intrinsic that it is reflected even in the Oromo dictionary itself. Yet, a segment of Oromo political elites aligned with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Prosperity Party (EPP) has attempted to reverse this natural order. They argue that freedom has already been achieved and that the Oromo people should now focus primarily on economic development.