Urbanizing the People, the Land, and the Government: A Bold Statement by Shimelis Abdissa
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Urbanizing the People, the Land, and the Government: A Bold Statement by Shimelis Abdissa

Introduction Shimelis Abdissa, the President of Oromia, has introduced a new term—possibly a novel entry into the Afan Oromo lexicon—magaalomsuu, derived from magaalaa, meaning town. The term magaalomsuu is intended to mean “to urbanize,” and it resonates deeply in the context of Oromia’s rural-urban divide with strong socio-political connotations. He further stated, “Waan sadii magaalomuu…

Ten Things the PP Government Has Done—and You Might Not Even Know
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Ten Things the PP Government Has Done—and You Might Not Even Know

1. Land of Mass Incarcerations and Extra-Judicial Executions Courtesy of the Prosperity Party (PP) government, Ethiopia—particularly the Oromia region—has become a land marked by mass incarcerations and extrajudicial executions. These events have become so routine that they rarely make the news anymore. Leading up to the last election, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed orchestrated a sweeping…