OROMIA TODAY – Oromia is a Country

Article | Editorial | Politics
The Election of the Wheat SheafAn Election Already Decided Before the Ballots Are Cast?
By OT Editorial Posted on2026-05-272026-05-27
Excerpt As Ethiopia approaches the 2026 election, questions increasingly shift from who will win to whether meaningful electoral conditions exist at all. With large territories remaining outside normal voting conditions, state machinery openly intertwined with campaigning, and outcomes widely presumed in advance, the election raises deeper questions about democratic legitimacy, political ritual, and whether the...
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W. Hundee Hurrisoo (1944–2026)Teacher, Prisoner of Conscience, Elder of Reconciliation, Keeper of Collective Memory
By OROMIA TODAY Posted on2026-05-182026-05-20
The Oromo people have lost another elder. With the passing of W. Hundee Hurrisoo on 14 May 2026, we bid farewell to a man whose life journey mirrored many chapters of modern Oromo history itself: shepherd boy, teacher, student activist, journalist, prisoner of conscience, political leader, exile, mediator, author, and elder. He belonged to that...
Read More W. Hundee Hurrisoo (1944–2026)Teacher, Prisoner of Conscience, Elder of Reconciliation, Keeper of Collective Memory
Article | Diplomacy | Op-Ed
When Diplomatic Language Meets Contested Histories: A Gentle Note to the UN Secretary-General
By OT Editorial Posted on2026-05-182026-05-18
UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ recent remarks in Finfinnee (Addis Ababa) praising Ethiopia as an “old civilization” and celebrating its preserved independence were welcomed by many. Yet for historically marginalized nations and nationalities within Ethiopia, such diplomatic language may unintentionally reinforce contested state narratives. This article offers a respectful reflection on historical plurality, collective memory, and the responsibility of international institutions when speaking about complex multinational states.
Read More When Diplomatic Language Meets Contested Histories: A Gentle Note to the UN Secretary-General
Article | Op-Ed | Politics
Regression Preference Syndrome: Debunking the Regressive Tendency in Ethiopian Politics
By Roobaa Hawaas (MA, Psychology) Posted on2026-05-172026-05-17
Regression Preference Syndrome is proposed as a political-psychological framework explaining Ethiopia's recurring tendency to favor historical rollback over incremental democratic progress. Using contemporary examples from autocratic rule, internal wars, unresolved national questions, maritime access discourse, and hard-power politics, the article argues that regression often appears psychologically easier than reform. It calls for Ethiopia to reject destructive coercive approaches, embrace soft power and negotiated settlements, and pursue gradual democratic progress instead of disruptive retrogressive steps that risk repeating historical cycles.
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Article | Op-Ed | Politics
What Does the Demand “Remove Article 39” Really Mean?
By OT Editorial Posted on2026-05-152026-05-15
Article 39 of the Ethiopian Constitution is often portrayed as a threat to national unity, but its deeper purpose is widely misunderstood. Far from encouraging separation, Article 39 functions as a constitutional safety valve that guarantees coexistence by consent rather than coercion. This article explores why the demand to remove Article 39 alarms many nations and peoples, the political psychology behind self-determination, and how abolishing constitutional guarantees could unintentionally weaken the very unity its opponents claim to defend.
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Personal Tribute
In Memory of a Dear Friend, Obbo Zegeye Asfaw Abdii
By M. Mossissa Posted on2026-05-142026-05-15
It is heartbreaking to hear of the unexpected and sudden death of Obbo Zegeye Asfaw Abdi. Losing such an elder brother and friend, whose advice was always invaluable, is difficult to bear. Before I personally met him in 1976, I had already heard about his role as a key leading figure whose name resonated far...
Read More In Memory of a Dear Friend, Obbo Zegeye Asfaw Abdii
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ZEGEYE ASFAW ABDII (1941–2026): The End of an Era
By OROMIA TODAY Posted on2026-05-122026-05-12
Zegeye Asfaw Abdii (1941-2026): A Life of Principle, Humility, and Service to Humanity
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Article | Epigenetics | Politics | Psychosociology | Social Psychology | Sociopolitical
From Trauma to Transformation: Historical Violence and the Possibility of Healing in Oromia
By Yadessa Guma (PhD, Anthropology) Posted on2026-05-062026-05-05
From conquest and slavery to modern conflict and insecurity, this article explores how historical violence continues to shape Oromia across generations socially, psychologically, and potentially biologically. Drawing on trauma studies, epigenetics, post-conflict research, and anti-colonial thought, it argues that lasting peace requires more than political change. Recognition, justice, cultural restoration, reconciliation, and healing are essential to breaking cycles of trauma and building a more stable and humane future.
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Article | Op-Ed | Voices from the Struggle
When Guardians Become Predators: A Cry from an Oromo Elder
By OROMIA TODAY Posted on2026-05-022026-05-02
In this compelling personal note, an Oromo Elder speaks out on the spread of organized criminal groups and the collapse of moral order in Oromia. From Ambo to Finfinnee, from Adama to Shashamane and beyond, his words capture a painful reality: citizens are left defenseless as those in power enable injustice. The Oromo Elder urges prayer, action, and collective awakening to confront this dark moment before it defines the future.
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Article | Op-Ed | Politics
Ethiopia Forward to the Past: The Politics of Nostalgia and the “Menelik Syndrome”
By Yadessa Guma (PhD, Anthropology) Posted on2026-04-282026-04-28
“Menelik Syndrome” captures a recurring pattern in Ethiopia’s political imagination: the selective revival of an idealized imperial past as a solution to present crises. Framed around the legacy of Menelik II, it elevates symbols of unity, strength, and state consolidation while downplaying the coercive foundations on which that unity was built. In contemporary discourse, this manifests in calls to “restore Ethiopia’s past glory”—a narrative that resonates emotionally but risks reopening unresolved historical contradictions. As a political lens, Menelik Syndrome helps explain how nostalgia, when filtered through power, can shape national identity, influence policy direction, and—paradoxically—intensify fragmentation rather than resolve it.
Read More Ethiopia Forward to the Past: The Politics of Nostalgia and the “Menelik Syndrome”
Article | Op-Ed | Politics | ⏭
The Ethiopian Perspective Gap: Why Some Voices Sound Like Truth—and Others Like Rebuttal
By Roobaa Hawaas (MA, Psychology) Posted on2026-04-232026-04-22
This op-ed explores how mono perspective sociopolitical views shape both art and politics, often presenting particular experiences as universal truths and thereby constraining meaningful dialogue. It argues that progress requires moving beyond such narrow vantage points—particularly among politicians, who are uniquely positioned to resolve complex sociopolitical issues. To do so, they must step outside mono perspective, engage competing realities with discipline, and adopt a genuinely multi-perspective approach capable of addressing long-standing tensions with clarity and fairness.
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Article | Commentary | Opinion | Politics
One Song, Five Messages
By Elemoo Qilxuu (MA, Political Science) Posted on2026-04-212026-04-21
In just days, one song by Tewodros "Teddy Afro" Kassahun has ignited a firestorm—revealing not unity, but multiple Ethiopias speaking past each other. What appears as controversy is, in truth, a deeper collision of meanings shaped by power, history, identity, and memory. This article unpacks the layered messages behind the moment, exposing how one song became a prism through which a fractured empire sees itself.
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Article | Commentary | Op-Ed | Politics | ⏭
Cui Bono? The Political Economy of Conflict and the Oromo Question
By Yadessa Guma (PhD, Anthropology) Posted on2026-04-202026-04-19
“Cui Bono?”—who benefits? This article applies that question to Ethiopia’s recurring cycles of conflict, arguing that instability is not accidental but structurally embedded. By centering the Oromo experience, it shows how political, military, and economic elites—historically reproduced through entrenched advantage—derive disproportionate benefit, while the broader population bears the cost. Without confronting this imbalance and the unresolved Oromo question, durable peace and equitable development will remain elusive.
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Article | Community | Human Rights | Politics | ⏭
Ambo: Cruelty in Plain Sight — Violence, Impunity, and the Political Crisis in Oromia
By Yadessa Guma (PhD, Anthropology) Posted on2026-04-162026-04-16
In Ambo, a shocking act of violence against young adults exposes more than individual cruelty—it reveals a growing pattern of impunity and normalized abuse across Oromia. What appears as a single incident reflects a deeper crisis, where violence is increasingly visible, accountability is absent, and fear is woven into daily life. As informal actors and unchecked forces shape events on the ground, the question is no longer whether this is isolated, but how far the pattern extends.
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History & Memory | Oromo Struggle | Remembrance | Tribute
Remembering Guyyaa Gootota Oromoo
By Abdi Badhadha (Oromo Rights Advocate) Posted on2026-04-152026-04-15
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A Personal Message by Abdi Badhadha Guyyaa Gootota Oromo as a Call for Unity and Collective Progress April 15 holds profound significance for the Oromo people as Guyyaa Gootota Oromoo, or Oromo Martyrs’ Day. It is a day dedicated to honoring the courageous men and women who sacrificed their lives for the freedom and dignity...
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History & Memory | Oromo Struggle | Remembrance | Tribute
Oromo Martyrs Day—April 15, 2026: Memory, Sacrifice, and the Unfinished Future of Oromia
By Yadessa Guma (PhD, Anthropology) Posted on2026-04-122026-04-11
Oromo Martyrs Day, observed on April 15, is not just a moment of remembrance—it is a living testament to sacrifice, resilience, and an unfinished struggle. From the fallen leaders of 1980 to civilians, youth movements, and fighters of today, the cost of dignity remains ongoing. This day binds generations through memory, while raising an urgent question: what becomes of a people’s sacrifice when history is still being written?
Read More Oromo Martyrs Day—April 15, 2026: Memory, Sacrifice, and the Unfinished Future of Oromia

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