"Systematic Dispossession of Oromia"
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The Systematic Dispossession of Oromia: Language Status Denied, Lands Mythologized and Engineered, Names Rewritten, and a Mountain Nearly Claimed

 An Article by Invitation Introduction In the age of satellites, algorithms, and global awareness, one might assume that cultural denial has no place left to hide. And yet, Ethiopia—a multinational entity whose sociopolitical structure still bears the hallmarks of an unreconciled empire—continues to find creative ways to deny the Oromo people what is clearly, obviously,…

oromophobia
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A Civic Lesson Disguised as an Interview: Understanding Oromophobia Through the EBS Controversy and Shabo Media’s Insightful Dialogue

It is rarely the case that interviews transcend their usual form and qualify as effective lecture material in civic education. Yet the interview of Aaddee Samihaa Osmaan on Shabo Media last night, conducted by the ever-charismatic Gaammee Galgaloo, focusing on an age-old issue of Oromophobia, was one such rare instance. More than just a conversation,…

Qanani Adunya
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The Death of Qanani Adunya and a Microcosm of Ethiopia’s Deep-Rooted Supremacist Mindset

Please Watch the Video Clip (81 sec) That Prompted this Editorial Before Proceeding. Thank You. The Tragic Death of a Young Artist The tragic death of young Oromo artist Qanani Adunya should have been a moment of collective mourning—a time for Ethiopia to grieve the loss of a bright, talented soul taken too soon. Instead,…

Oromia
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A New Abyssinian Alliance in the Making and What it Means for Oromia

Synopsis The crisis of Oromia can be summed up in a single, stark sentence: Oromia’s greatest hazard is its own wealth. The sheer abundance of its resources has drawn in competing forces, each vying for control. This relentless scramble has made the realization of Oromia’s self-determination—a cause championed for decades—an even more daunting challenge. Today,…

The Myth of Ethiopia’s Historical Continuity: A Political Invention Disguised as Legacy
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The Myth of Ethiopia’s Historical Continuity: A Political Invention Disguised as Legacy

Synopsis The name Ethiopia is often presented as an unbroken historical identity, tracing back to ancient times. However, a closer examination of historical records, international registrations, and linguistic origins reveals that the name Ethiopia, as applied to a modern empire-state, lacks continuity before the 20th century. Instead, it was a political rebranding strategy, gaining official…

Civility Costs Nothing, Obbo Hailu Adunya
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Civility Costs Nothing, Obbo Hailu Adunya

Public office is not a playground for personal arrogance, nor is it a stage for hurling insults at those with differing perspectives. It is, above all, a responsibility—a duty to conduct oneself with dignity, reason, and respect. Obbo Hailu Adunya, the spokesperson of the Oromia Regional Administration, seems to have missed this fundamental truth in…

Decoding Prosperity Party Regime’s Farcical Four-Day Meeting on Oromia
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Decoding Prosperity Party Regime’s Farcical Four-Day Meeting on Oromia

  ­DISCLAIMER This editorial opinion of OROMIA TODAY has been formulated in consultation with opinion influencers.   What Just Happened? Reportedly, delegates representing a broad spectrum of political, civic, and faith-based organizations—16 in total, as stated—convened to deliberate on the political and security situation in Oromia. While the stated purpose was to discuss these pressing issues,…

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…

The Immutable Standard: The Politician Who Stands Like a Mountain
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The Immutable Standard: The Politician Who Stands Like a Mountain

There exists, in the crumbling, treacherous landscape of modern politics, a rare and nearly mythical figure—the Politician of Unyielding Principle. Unlike the fair-weather careerists who slither from one political feast to another, sniffing for power like a desperate hound at a butcher’s door, this individual is cut from stone, his convictions carved deep, immovable, impervious…

Why Is No One Talking About the Dissolution of the Ethiopian Empire?
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Why Is No One Talking About the Dissolution of the Ethiopian Empire?

The Elephant in the Room The Ethiopian Empire, as it stands today, is a product of the late 19th century “Scramble for Africa,” when European colonial powers carved up the continent among themselves. Unlike most African countries, Ethiopia managed to resist outright European colonization. However, its imperial formation under Emperor Menelik II followed a similar…

Why the Oromia Opposition Parties Never Ever Learn
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Why the Oromia Opposition Parties Never Ever Learn

A famous intelligent person once said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” That is precisely the dilemma Ethiopian opposition groups and liberation fronts find themselves in today. Despite repeated betrayals, failed negotiations, and a rigged political landscape, opposition parties continue engaging with a regime that has never…

The Unshakable Truth: Finfinnee is an Oromo City
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The Unshakable Truth: Finfinnee is an Oromo City

Ignorance is our enemy. When we are devoid of facts and logic, all we have is raw emotion. Emotion alone won’t do it. Rewriting fake history, like the fabricated narrative of Barara, won’t change reality. No amount of rhetorical flourish can override the weight of facts. And the fact of the matter is this: Finfinnee…

The Futility of Denial: How Historical Revisionism Undermines Inter-Ethnic Cohesion in Ethiopia
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The Futility of Denial: How Historical Revisionism Undermines Inter-Ethnic Cohesion in Ethiopia

Background As I watched a video clip of a recent parliamentary session from distance—courtesy of YouTube—I was caught off guard by a moment that, while unexpected in such a formal setting, was hardly surprising given Ethiopia’s deep-rooted ethnic tensions. During the Q&A session, Dr. Desalegn Chanie, an Amhara politician, deliberately referred to Adama by its…

How Far We’ve Come: And the Advesary Does Not Care to Know It
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How Far We’ve Come: And the Advesary Does Not Care to Know It

I am looking at a picture of two young girls—perhaps in their late teens or early twenties. Their beauty is undeniable, yet it is not the kind of beauty that comes from youth alone. It is the beauty of conviction, of courage, of defiance. They are not dressed for leisure, nor are they indulging in…

The Anatomy of an Unforced Error: When Leadership Blunders Cross the Line
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The Anatomy of an Unforced Error: When Leadership Blunders Cross the Line

Some mistakes are mere slip-ups, while others leave the world scratching its head. The latter category—unforced errors of a daft kind—carries a special weight, often revealing deeper flaws in leadership, judgment, and strategic thinking. These aren’t the minor lapses of an exhausted official or the misstatements of an off-the-cuff remark; rather, they are self-inflicted wounds…