Ethiopia Post-Meles and the Oromo Agenda
by Magarsa Mukhtar
No dictator rules for a lifetime. Not in the new millennium. With the wave of domestic anti-government sentiments and the rapid trends of change across the region, Meles Zenawi’s days as prime minister of Ethiopia were always numbered.
Zenawi was fortunate to get a dignified exit from politics and this world, a luxury many of his African counterparts didn’t enjoy. However, his “untimely demise” has opened a new can of worms for his successors. As the state-run ETV replays a scene of government officials’ casting votes, the social web is awash with rumors of power struggle.
Now that the ruthless dictator is gone, is there a cause for celebration for Oromos?
Celebration alludes to some sort of victory and that is certainly not the case. Yes, Meles’ departure provides more leeway for the Oromos to flex their muscles against an extremely repressive political elite but it seems like the head of the snake falling off hasn’t quite led to its death.
Nevertheless, the Tigrean Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) has found itself in a critical state with discouraging prognosis. The Oromos could help expedite the demise of the party that has been a scourge to our existence if we take a lesson from the history book of post-1991 politics in Ethiopia.
The implications of Dergue’s downfall and the demise of Meles Zenawi are strikingly similar. Enormous sacrifices led to that momentous occasion when Mengistu Hailemariam ran for his life. Many hoped, the transitional government of Ethiopia would usher in a new beginning – an era of hope, equality and freedom. Early signs were encouraging.
An ethnic-based federal structure was put in place, the brainchild of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF). A relatively autonomous self-rule was envisaged. Ethnic regions were to develop their culture and language. Afan Oromo became the official language of Oromia regional state.
Alas, we soon learned, Ethiopia’s sad saga of oppression, tyranny and ethnic disparity was simply given a new lease of life. The new and enchanting Ethiopia belied the truth that this was a ploy to placate Oromo separatist sentiment, and Meles was the architect of it all. Meles’ Machiavellianism and OLF’s belief that he was not a trustworthy partner led to the latter being pushed out of the transitional government. This not only precipitated the ostracization of the OLF, but also emboldened the OPDO – a political outfit designed by TPLF to serve as an agent of the state rather than the voice of Oromos.
Two decades later, the OLF has become weaker than ever and fragmented as a result of both Meles’ machinations and OLF’s own grave political miscalculations. The most unfortunate victims of all these has been the Oromo people. However, Oromos cannot be beholden to the past. Dwelling on the past, especially at this critical juncture, is not the right way forward. So which way forward? Here are some suggestions.
Pragmatism Over Idealism
Oromo politics suffered from severe paralysis in the last 20 years. It was stuck in a state of debilitating immobility and Oromo political protagonists are guilty of this gross incompetence. Even when strides were made, it seemed to be leading us on a wild goose chase of ever-elusive principles. The OLF was caught between dichotomous principles of secession from Ethiopia versus entering into union with others in a truly federal Ethiopia. This polarizing issue has pitted what should have been a united, 40-million-strong people against one another along ideological lines. Even today, the notion of realpolitik remains beyond the comprehension of hardliner ideologues.
In my view, the first step forward is to do away with our pie-in-the-sky notions that lack realism. Whether we want an independent state of Oromia or an autonomous region in Ethiopia, the priority should be realizing what is achievable and whether it is in the interests of the Oromo nation. Read more at Opride.com
Jawar Mohammed is a graduate student at Columbia University, and a political analyst with focus on the Horn of Africa. His articles are available at www.gulelepost.com.
I agreed and liked the idea of shifting the full support to the OFC who is at the nose of the enemy than the diaspora who never seem learm from mistakes even at this golden opportunity. This way it is possible to leave aside the Oromo diaspora politcs and politicians and target and focus on the in country politics and struggle.
I think all the splinters of OLF will so loos all the support as the oromo people will give its face to the OFC which I personnaly agree with and support. Let go ahead this way as fast as possible.
Best.
I am fully agreed with the idea of the writer. The Oromo people need to shift from OLF to any Oromo organization who can do the better job. OLF is becoming more divided and weaker. The chance to make allaince with many armed oppostion parties are there.
This is an insightful piece. Everyone should give it a serious thought.
As victory stories tell us princples are not negotiated or compromised.Those who compromise princples are losers and thos e who defend their princples are winners at the end.short sighted vission of the current development in Ethiopia by any oromian nationalist is disasterous.Maintaining your strategic goals you can deal with your tactics to achieve common goals with others.Immagine who are at the back of the habeshans? wether they are Muslims or christIans they are back sided by the west and their brothers in faith.It seems that the current clash between the government and muslims is simply another campaign to divert the oromian and other peoples national aspiration to inter religious conflicts. there fore be cautios not spoil what have been achieved and going to be achieved
First of all, I would like to extend warm greetings to all the readers of this article of mine. Thank you, especially those who shared their supportive comments.
I would like to state that this article was posted on OPride magazine, where I am undergoing an open-ended volunteer program/internship. I currently write articles concerning the Oromo people (esp refugees in the HOA) as well as analysis pieces where I dissect the latest news. It is very unfortunate that a seemingly professional publishing house such as InDepth Africa would stoop to such low standards and wrongfully claim this article.
I therefore want to advise all the readers seeing this to not use the website, be it for reading purposes or referencing/sharing “their articles” since it has shown itself to be a plagiarist of another man’s hard work.
I would also like for the administrator(s) of this website to remove the link to InDepth Africa and replace it with the OPride link – the rightful source of this analytical piece.
Thanks once more for all your kind words.
Where is the confusing term “Oromian” comes from? Citizens of Oromia are oromo or Oromos(plural). I think that should be corrected. I heard song about “oromiyawinete” that sounded to me not so great. It should have been “Oromonete”.
Just a thought.
@Markos, we decline accepting your advice. We are, as you are, indeed entitled to call ourselves by any name possible we deem important to us. It is non of your business.
Hi Jawar,Good analysis.
Meles was not the only enemy of Oromo. We know that our people is being chased from Tana river , near Mombasa, to the Northern Ethiopia, the current Tigray Region. Historically this was created by the colonialist who long ago recognized the powerful Oromo. It was not the Abyssinian who fought and defeated every colonial attempt made by the Western. So, they devised the current system systematical to oppress Oromo. Beside the bitter defeat they tasted on the hands of Oromo, they used a wrong logic that Oromo is not following Christianity and thus they
considred Oromo as na enermy of the WEwst. All thes ato to