Manifestations and Expressions of Political Oromummaa

“Blaming Abiy Ahmed and the Oromia Prosperity Party (OPP) leadership for misusing the concept of Oromummaa obscures a broader, more complex political landscape.” Neamin Zeleke

Neamin Zeleke 

While I appreciate Professor Ezikel Geibisa’s willingness to revisit his earlier position, his recent focus on blaming Abiy Ahmed and the Oromia Prosperity Party (OPP) leadership for misusing the concept of Oromummaa obscures a broader, more complex political landscape. Although he rightly criticizes the manipulation of Oromummaa as a quasi-ideology for domination, imposition, hegemony, and expansion—purportedly in the name of the Oromo people—shifting responsibility solely onto “Ethiopia’s reactionary political right” fails to capture the full context of recent political developments and ethnic polarization.

In recent years, influential Oromo intellectuals outside the OPP have also and openly argued for reconfiguring Ethiopia in their own “image” and “interest.” I contend that such a stance poses a severe threat to justice, inclusion, and the long-standing struggle for diversity and equality that Ethiopians have fought for across generations. Moreover, not only have OPP leaders and senior cadres endorsed such agendas, but some Oromo elites—even those who oppose the OPP—have weaponized Oromo ideologues such as Asafa Jalata’s conceptions to justify expansive territorial and political claims.

As Dr. Yonas Biru (self-described “low-grade quasi-Nazi”) has observed, this exclusionary and expansionist version of political Oromummaa manifests in several alarming ways:

Ethnic Cleansing and Violence Against the Amhara

For over five decades, toxic narratives and hate campaigns aimed at the Amhara have allegedly contributed to multiple episodes of ethnic cleansing, sometimes bordering on genocide, in parts of Oromia and Benishangul. Various researchers suggest that as many as 40,000 Amhara may have lost their lives, with hundreds of thousands forcibly displaced. Proponents of this view argue that these cycles of violence are partly driven by politically charged reinterpretations of Ethiopian history—using half-truths, selective narratives, and hateful rhetoric promulgated by adherents of Oromummaa and groups such as the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF). (Readers are encouraged to consult a variety of sources for independent verification of casualty and displacement figures.)

Land Grabs

Documented reports reveal incursions into neighboring regions—including Sidama, Southern Nations, Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambella, and parts of Amhara—that have displaced local communities. Critics interpret these activities as deliberate attempts to expand Oromo-administered territory at the expense of established local identities.

Forced Displacement

Under the guise of a “settlers versus natives” narrative—a theme echoed by Sheger City Mayor Dr. Teshome—over 100,000 homes have reportedly been demolished, and an estimated 500,000 non-Oromo residents have been forcibly expelled from Addis Ababa (locally known as “Sheger”) under harsh and inhumane conditions. These claims are supported by multiple sources, including televised statements and documented social media evidence.

Hegemonic Rhetoric

• Shimeles Abdisa has vowed to “recreate and reengineer Ethiopia in our image”—a statement widely interpreted as advocating an exclusively Oromo vision for the country. At the 2023 Irreecha celebration at the Sheraton Addis, he even declared that the next festival would be held along the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.
• Abiy Ahmed is reported to have told more than 200 Oromo elites in 2019 of his intention to create an “East African Oromo Empire” and to resettle millions of Oromos in neighboring countries such as Djibouti, Somalia, and Eritrea.

Cultural Coercion

Several measures reflect a broader strategy of cultural imposition:

• Flags & Anthems: The mandatory display of the Oromia regional flag and the compulsion for students in non-Oromo schools in Addis Ababa to sing the Oromia hymn underscore symbolic efforts to reshape ethnic identity.
• Language Imposition: Afan Oromo instruction is being enforced in non-Oromo schools—often without parental or student consent—even in Addis Ababa. While Afan Oromo deserves recognition as a Federal language, the current implementation by the Oromia Prosperity Party is perceived as a coercive instrument rather than a move toward genuine linguistic and cultural equity.
• Preferential Treatment: Elevating Oromo symbols and festivals—such as designating Irreecha as an official holiday in Gambella—comes at the expense of recognizing the rights, traditions, and equal status of other ethnic groups.

These manifestations reveal a version of political Oromummaa that prioritizes territorial expansion, cultural supremacism, and ethnic dominance. The overt ambitions of the OPP leadership—and of figures like Abiy Ahmed—to extend this agenda beyond Ethiopia highlight a trajectory that risks undermining national unity, pluralism, and the constitutional guarantees of equality for every community and citizen. 

The pursuit of an exclusively narrow interpretation of national identity is contributing to deep divisions. Such a trajectory—whether through cultural coercion, territorial ambition, or the manipulation of historical narratives—risks fracturing Ethiopia’s rich diversity and undermining the constitutional promise of equality. The challenge, therefore, is to reconcile the historical legacy and aspirations of the Oromo with the imperative of a cohesive, inclusive national identity.

Social Media References and Evidence

1. Dr. Yonas Biru (self-described “low-grade quasi-Nazi”) (https://x.com/YonasBiru57/status/1877431644249899168)
2. Sheger Mayor, Dr. Teshome’s televised statements and additional evidence of forced displacement and political Oromummaa narratives: (https://x.com/NeaminZeleke/status/1912880609845768528, https://x.com/HOAAffairs/status/1701639287416950962, https://x.com/ShebaPushStart/status/1902180508705890521, https://x.com/aradahibret/status/1900159203924189594, https://x.com/AbrarSuleiman/status/1900477419066216769, https://x.com/RasDamte/status/1859389072151601209, https://x.com/RasDamte/status/1851969424426713111, https://x.com/RasDamte/status/1835087319075807456)
3. Shimeles Abdisa’s clip outlining the toxic ideology of #Oromummaa and its efforts to undermine indigenous faiths: (https://x.com/HOAAffairs/status/1875990421094244379)

Editor’s Note : Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com      

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