Ethiopia Has Fallen Under Oromummaa Colonial Rule 

By: Tewabe Debas 

Introduction 

Ethiopia’s political scene has readjusted considerably more than it has four years. At the center of this development is Oromummaa, not as a form of culture, but as a political ideology that seeks to consolidate Oromo power within the state. While it was, for a while, passed as the main vehicle for political representation, Oromummaa has, of late, been seen as a means of capturing power that has enabled Oromo elites to commandeer the state apparatus while excluding other ethnic groups, positioning Oromummaa as a dominating mechanism. 

Oromummaa: A Political Project 

Oromummaa is intended to serve as a political plan. Its primary goal is to realize Oromo hegemony within Ethiopia’s federal and national institutions. This is facilitated by the appointment of Oromo elites to important state, military, and administrative positions and through strategic policies that perpetuate Oromo hegemony across the political, social, and economic realms. Other critics observe that Oromummaa conveniently sacrifices the rightful political representation of the whole of Ethiopia in favor of the political predominance of one ethnic group. 

Oromummaa as Colonial Rule 

Within the present context, Oromummaa takes the form of colonial internalism, as described by critics. This “colonial rule” features: 

• Political control: Oromo politicians monopolize both regional and federal decision-making. • Resource distribution: Policies and investments prioritize Oromo-majority areas. • Other groups’ marginalization: Non-Oromo communities experience political, social, and economic exclusion. 

• Policy imposition: Oromo-centric policies dominate governance, language, and administrative frameworks, viewed as offering little to no inclusion for the rest of the country. This domestic 

form of colonialism influences Ethiopia’s multi-ethnic federalism negatively and poses risks to the inter-community equilibrium. 

Effect on the Cohesion of the State 

Oromummaa’s political dominance has increased instability by escalating ethnic conflicts. Amhara, Tigray, and Somali communities feel politically and socially sidelined and distanced from the governance of the country. Holding the political reins and power of Oromos fuels the perception of a new Ethiopian state that works for the interests of a sole ethnic group while undermining the ideals of equity, federalism, and equality. 

Conclusion 

Critics have described Oromummaa as colonial in nature in the context of Ethiopian governance. Power has been centralized within the Oromo elite, while other ethnic groups have been sidelined, undermining fragmented national unity, stability, and inclusive governance. This calls for a recommitment to federalism in its truest sense, including balanced political inclusion, and systems that prevent any one group from overpowering the others.

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

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