By Simon Stefanos
The signatories of the “Open Letter to President Isaias Afwerki” have, in all likelihood, remained silent when Prime Minister Abiy initiated the downward spiral of the tumultuous relationship between our two countries with his outrageous claims over our seaport. Furthermore, he was the one who cast the first stone by inviting an avowed anti- government group opposed to the state of Eritrea, a group that is hell-bent on overthrowing it by any means necessary. This group has recently declared an armed wing, following rumors that its members received military training in Ethiopia’s Afar region.
If the signatories expected that Eritrea would fold its hands and passively await the arrival of Ethiopia-instigated armed groups at its doorstep, they were seriously mistaken. They should have known that Eritrea excels in such matters and has historically emerged victorious. As is well known, reciprocity is the name of the game. “Live with the fire, you die by the fire.”
What President Isaias said about the misuse of the Oromummaa concept is, in essence, no different from what Professor Jalata expressed in his Addis Standard op-ed.
Recently, a significant number of negative social media comments–appearing to originate from accounts with culturally
Oromo-sounding names–have emerged, targeting Eritrea and Eritreans. Notably, there has been no public call from Oromo scholars to moderate this rhetoric.
The signatories of the open letter criticized what they perceived as interference by President Isaias in Ethiopia’s domestic affairs. However, in raising internal Eritrean matters themselves, they have fallen into the same trap they decry-an act that constitutes hypocrisy at its finest
So, rather than taking refuge in the word, the esteemed scholars of the open letter should engage with its contemporary meaning as it stands, and explicitly compare it to Professor Asafa-Jalata’s extensive and expanding definition and aspirations.
Over the past two years, numerous Oromo commentators have denigrated Eritrean identity with impunity, disparaging our history and nationhood. When an Eritrean recently shared his perspective on Oromummaa and its implications, it stirred strong emotions, unsettling some Oromo intellectuals.
In the coming days, I will explore how adherents of the OPDO party have co–opted and misapplied the concept of Oromummaa, transforming it into a widely resented and feared expansionist ideology, contrary to the original ideas proposed by Professor Asafa Jalata.
Note: For readers unfamiliar with Professor Asafa–Jalata, he is an Oromo intellectual who single–handedly coined the term Oromummaa in the late nineteen–nineties culminating in publishing a rea. At least that is what an online search results for that word shows.
Editor’s Note : Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com
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