Take this as an axiom: no peace with the Oromo means no peace for Ethiopia. The reality is simple yet profound: Oromia is the heart of Ethiopia. It serves as the empire’s economic hub and defines Ethiopia in every sense of the word for its existence. Without addressing the Oromo questions, the foundation of Ethiopia’s…
I am staring at a photograph of a woman from northern Oromia, likely in her fifties. Her face, gaunt and weathered, seems sculpted by anguish. Her hollowed cheeks give prominence to her cheekbones, and tears streak across her broad but emaciated face. It is a face that embodies sorrow so intensely that I find it…
The Oromia PP government is staging a spectacle featuring Sanyii Nagassa, a former member of the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) who defected to their side. In a carefully choreographed photo session, Shimelis and Sanyii exchanged ceremonial agreement folders, more like heads of states, attempting to spin a narrative of triumph—the supposed defeat of OLA and…
In any civilized political landscape, certain admissions of failure or culpability warrant an immediate and unambiguous resignation. The recent statements by Shimelis Abdisa, President of the Oromia Regional State, serve as a glaring example of such a moment. His admission—albeit cloaked in a desperate blame-shifting exercise—exposes a dereliction of duty so profound that any leader…
Imagine Nazi sympathizers ramping up their propaganda efforts to falsely claim credit for the victory achieved by the Allied Powers, all in a bid to maintain their grip on power. Their narrative spins a tale of liberation and freedom, attempting to convince the masses that they were the ones responsible for the victory. However, this…
An accomplished Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) political figure was assassinated last night. His assassination was made to coincide with one of the major religious holidays, Ramadan, presumably calculated to bury the news amidst the celebratory atmosphere. The cruelty of the Ethiopian regime is only matched by the character of the martyr, Jaal Battee Urgeessaa, renowned…
In the heartland of bravery, Wallo Oromos stand tall, 400 years of resilience, enduring the genocide call. But in the shadows of dawn, during sacred Ramadan’s grace, Fanno’s terror strikes, preying on a fasting weakened race. Separated from brethren, by lines drawn in cruel game, Abyssinians’ hands, carved out, leaving Wallo in quarantined shame. Oromia’s…
INTRODUCTION The foundation of any structure—be it physical, societal, or personal—determines its strength and durability. When that foundation is built on lies, collapse becomes inevitable. Lies erode trust, which is the glue that binds relationships and communities. When trust is based on falsehoods, it begins to crack, undermining communication and cooperation. Lies also distort reality….
1. Origins and Structure: The Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) traces its roots to the organized structure of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), forming a cohesive freedom fighter organization. In stark contrast, AMHARA FANO constitutes a conglomerate of loosely organized paramilitaries driven by the mission to address the grievances of the Amhara elites. Even the origin…
November 21st, 2023 was indeed a sad day! The unsaid reason behind the failed peace talks between the Ethiopian government and Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) was all too evident from a statement issued by Mr Redwan Hussien—PM’s advisor and on-behalf chief negotiator—on his X (formerly Twitter) social media page last night. To get the clue,…
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church’s focus should have been on theology instead of being an economic and political instrument that provides a way of life. In the name of religious teaching, the Orthodox Church made it possible for the Amharic language to expand across the empire of Ethiopia while at the same time allowing the Amharas…
— OROMIA TODAY EDITORIAL The audacity is jaw dropping, the miscalculation is mind boggling; the insensitivity will only hasten the end of an empire that is already in tatters. Yes, colonel Abiy Ahmed, PM of Ethiopia, just followed in the footsteps of his role models, Menelik II and Haile Sellasee I, in appointing a transitional…
By Gumaa Guddaa This article was first published on Oromo Affairs blog site on September 10, 2010 and now republished on Oromia Today to honour the Oromo revolutionaries martyred for the liberation of Oromia since the November 2015 uprise. Introduction Oromia was forcefully annexed by a neighboring country called Abyssinia at the end of the…
