Preview: A Revolutionary Spirit in Question
Once the fearless voice of Oromo freedom, now sounding like a Prosperity Party (PP) loyalist?
Jawar Mohammed’s latest interview on Kush Media Network (KMN) left many shocked — and some wondering: Has the revolutionary spirit faded, or is there a bigger game at play?
Read below the full reflection on his surprising transformation.
Jawar Mohammed
It is almost unbelievable — but there it was, live on KMN: Jawar Mohammed, once the proud voice of Oromo resistance, now speaking almost like an official from the PP regime.
Jawar Mohammed was once a name that stirred hope and courage in every Oromo household. He played a pivotal role in the Qeerroo & Qarree youth movement that helped bring down the brutal EPRDF regime. Although the movement was originally organized by the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), it is Jawar who is widely credited with galvanizing it into a powerful force. His leadership—be that by default—was revolutionary by any standard.
But today? Today he sounds like a completely different person.
During his KMN interview, Jawar chose his words with obvious caution. Instead of proudly calling Oromo fighters “freedom fighters,” he repeatedly referred to them as “riphee-lolaa” — a term meaning “crouching fighters” or “ambushing warriors”. While the phrase was coined to describe guerilla-style fighters, it lacks the dignity and honor that “freedom fighters” carry.
Why would a man who once risked everything for Oromo freedom avoid using a word that celebrates their bravery? Why belittle the gallant WBO — Waraana Biliisummaa Oromoo — the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA)?
The most shocking part was not just his choice of words, but his attitude. (For this segment, you can jump to timeline 15:30 of the interview video—link below—which runs for about 5 minutes).
Jawar seemed almost indignant that the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) was losing to and surrendering to the “riphee lolaas“, including the WBO fighters.
But let us be clear: the ENDF today is not a neutral institution defending Ethiopia from external enemies. It has become an armed tool for PM Abiy Ahmed and his PP clique to cling to power, by turning its guns and drones on Ethiopian citizens.
Jawar’s defense of the ENDF sounded more loyal than even what you might hear from PM Abiy Ahmed himself — or from FM Birhanu Jula.
And This Shift Is Not Entirely New
Since the launch of his book Hin Gabbuu (“No Regrets”), Jawar has gradually moved toward an “Ethiopianist” position — drifting away from his earlier “Oromo First” principle that made him a hero among his people. His change of heart has already sparked controversy at book events from around the beginning of this year, where supporters questioned his new stance. This sentiment was also echoed in a similar opinion article [1] published here on OROMIA TODAY.
Seen through this lens, his KMN interview is simply the next chapter in a steady transformation.
If this is part of a political calculation, it is hard to see where it leads. His connection to the near-defunct Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) is weak. Unless, of course, the real goal is to join the Prosperity Party itself — the very regime Jawar once fought against.
That seems to be the only logical explanation.
Towards the end of the interview, Jawar vaguely mentioned that “we” are preparing for something — without saying what that “something” is. It sounded more like a politician carefully hedging his bets than a revolutionary boldly rallying people for justice and freedom. The lack of clarity only deepens the uncertainty about his current political intentions.
Perhaps he will prove us wrong. Perhaps time will reveal a different story, one that reaffirms his earlier commitment to the cause of his people. Hope, after all, is a stubborn thing.
But as things stand today, the revolutionary spirit that once made Jawar Mohammed a legend seems all but lost — replaced by careful calculations, ambiguous language, and a disheartening sense of distance from the struggles he once championed with fearless conviction.
Related Reference:
- Glory to Gloom: The Rise and Fall of Jawar Mohammed, January 15, 2025, OROMIA TODAY.
- YouTube Video for Jawar Mohammed Interview on KMN — Dhimma Dargaggoota Humnaan waraanatti guuruu fi haala yeroo, Courtesy of Kush Media Network (YouTube Channel), April 27, 2025.
