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Oromia: A National Crisis, Open Dialogue, and Building National Consensus

December 21, 2011 at 11:25 pm · Gadaa.com

By Asafa Jalata*

We have reached at the dead end in our national struggle. The Oromo national movement has lost its steam and direction as its leadership and ideology have faced deep crises. The leadership of the Oromo national movement, specifically the OLF, could not effectively lead an Oromo revolution due to some external and internal factors. The external factors have included regional, domestic and international forces (i.e. Ethiopian, regional and global forces) that are determined to destroy the Oromo struggle. The internal factors have included the lack of substantial coherent revolutionary Oromo elites, the explosion of opportunist and mercenary Oromos, the failure to transform Oromo awareness to Oromummaa (Oromo nationalism), the lack of ideological clarity, and the political ignorance, passivism, and the fatalism of the populace. These internal problems were mainly caused by the policies of the successive Habasha governments that have conspired against the Oromo people by destroying their independent leadership and institutions and by denying an education to the Oromo majority. This piece focuses on the problems of the human agency the Oromo elites and society, and proposes some urgent practical solutions.

The Oromo Elites: Recognizing Shortcomings and overcoming them
The division of the OLF into three wings due to political ineptness and immaturity, the lack of understanding of the complexity of the Oromo nation and its politics, false competition for political power, low level of nationalist consciousness, and the use of the cheap politics of clan and region have created deeper crises and confusions among the Diaspora Oromo. Furthermore, the inability of one of these branches to develop itself as a formidable liberation front has complicated the crisis of the Oromo national movement. In addition, the three branches of the OLF have failed to learn from their past mistakes and to reconcile in order to unify and rebuild the Oromo national movement. Unfortunately, other Oromo independent organizations have also drastically failed to carry out their political missions and objectives. All these conditions have given an ample opportunity for the external and the internal enemies of the Oromo nation to attack clandestinely and openly the Oromo movement in order to reduce its effectiveness or to destroy it totally. What are our national responsibilities for those of us who have understood these chains of problems and dangers for our struggle and our nation? To solve our internal problems and to mobilize and organize our people in the Diaspora in this age of apathy and confusion are going to be an upward battle.

– Read More (Ayyaantuu.com)

* Asafa Jalata (ajalata@utk.edu) is a Professor of Sociology, Global Studies, and Africana Studies at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.He has published and edited eight books and authored sixty refereed articles in regional and international journals and several book chapters.

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11 Comments

  1. abdi said,

    December 23, 2011 @ 9:54 am

    Ethiopia is a myth that is made by powers (USA, Britain) to control the region. There was never a country called Rthiopia, these people have nothing in common. The Oromos have their own langauge, culture and region, the Ogadens do, so do Amhara, Trigringay, and the people who live near Sudan 9Benchi, Mursi, Konso, Omom Gambelle, Benzhul Gamuz) have their own langaue and culture and appearence.

    The powers are using Zenawi to maintain their interest in the region, they don;t care about the people.

  2. Robbale said,

    December 23, 2011 @ 12:48 pm

    Proffesor Asafaa Thank you for been the first Oromo professor to take this hard line, you might get a lot of critics in this, but, you take a great call on right time. I think all educated focus whom call themself an Oromo and believe in Oromo struggle, should follow this pat, to Bering all Oromo together despite their difference. We need to save our motherland from wayyane mafia whom are sweeping everything for the last 20 years. 2011, has been the worse abuse for Oromo’s and other Ethiopian also. This mass arrest and judicial killing turn the spot light of every one. The Oromo leaders and organization turn bland eye on this and turn on each other specially, for last 10 years as Dr Assafa has put it. I think it is time oromos from all walk of life should stand up and say enough is enough to division and take all our effort on our common enemy.

  3. kebede said,

    December 24, 2011 @ 5:40 pm

    As I saw closely, most of the Oromos, who want give their lives for Oromia independence, they are not concerned about religion, clan, and region. These quality Oromos have been joined honestly these three divided political parties, because they think this one better than others. To tell the truth, they have not enough information about these political parties leadership and the people around them.These innocent Oromos divided among these three groups and isteade of strength themselves they weakend each other.

    Dear, Oromo politician and intellectuals:
    1. Could you do the reaserch on these Oromo leaderships, what their back grounds, strength and weakeness.
    2.Could you to help to prepare the young genaration for leadership or find a good leadership.

    With out good leadership, no political success. No one can blame the Oromo people.
    Those leadership stll on power, they have taken enough time. It is not a contract. “A foot ball team can show a good play in the field, but the most important is a goal.”

  4. me and you said,

    December 24, 2011 @ 5:59 pm

    Dear professor, thank you for speaking up the truth, though it’s bitter, the pill must be swallowed by all to cure chronic disease that persist in our struggle. You raised and pinpoint the critical crisis that should be discussed in detail and thoroughly, it is this reality now surfacing and must face it or quit it. When you face, you must fix problem that put us in to this dreadlock position and make sure you paved necessary foundation how one qualify to lead organization, their term of leadership in the organization. It also require not only leadership, also look in to the fundamental objective of Oromo, whether to call to national assemble inclusive of all Oromo stake holders where ideas and strategies as well all the common goal is clearly stated publicly, where in national convention inclusive to all, the objective and strategies drafted and adapted accepted by all to move us out of dreadlock to free us and think for common good.
    In doing so, in my opinion, I propose three cycle that we must process through to achieve what we want and have common ground and unity to be a formidable force that rock the enemy as we united and confront with united forces.
    1. Fair mind Oromo individuals from all corners must gather and form assemble where independent discussion panel formed and grass root discussion shall initiated in all corners of Diaspora and home, Oromia
    2. With recommendation of independent panel at free public discussion, bring all stake holders to public historical forum where their differences and sources of their disagreements shall spelled out publicly, their recommendation and their version of resolution states in public for Oromo people to see and digests all sources of information and look for common solution. Such discussion must revisit honestly from the beginning of OLF formation, the spilt of OLF in to OLF and IFLO, down to different faction including to QC, jijjirama and so on and so forth. With out going out and revisiting all sources of pro

  5. biftudinsho said,

    December 25, 2011 @ 10:06 am

    dear professor
    barruun teessan tan ajaaibaa tun guyya guyyan computera irra nu dudubisuitti jirt. ani amma kan na yaadeesu tokko gaafa ilmaan qote bula,aa kilasha qabatte baaleen yaatee dhumte ilmaan professoroota akkuma barate booleen yaatee kutte.
    kanaafuu baruu professoroota irra oromoo abdii kutatera.
    nagayati.

  6. Falamata said,

    December 26, 2011 @ 2:34 pm

    Pro. Asafa,

    Galatoomi dhugaa baa’uu keessatii “Dhugaan ni qalatii malee hin ciituu” waggootta dheerafii yaada Shanee gumi duuka turettii amma garuu yaada Shanee nama hobatee dha. Dhugaa jira ummata keenya ibsu keessatii amalee galata guuda qabda. Gaaruu fuula durafii immoo yaada kee kana hojjii irra qabda.

    Nagaa jiradhu!

  7. Kutu said,

    December 26, 2011 @ 10:47 pm

    Professor, dhosaan fanxxo hin fayyisu jette Oromoon, denial is not the way anymore, saboonumaan kee rakkoo diinni qabu qofa nutti himuu mitti it also includs telling us our weaknesses and strengeths. Yeroo hedduuf kan nuti dhukubnee du’aa tureef waan nudhibe dubanee furmaata itti godhuu irra waan nudhibe dhosuu fi dubachuu dhiisuu akka aadaati waan fudhachaa tureefi.
    An amman argeti dogogora waliti himanii wal sirreesuun akka cubbuuti ilaalamee hameenya waliif dhosanii wal jibbuun jaalumma dhaa fi norm qabsoo keenya ta’ee ture. This should be totally altered now.

    Prof. Galatoomi waaqayyo si haa eebbisuu jabaadhu!

  8. Anti Populist said,

    December 28, 2011 @ 10:43 pm

    In the late 1980s, a group of Oromos left the OLF and launched a new organization called Ibso, to liberate Oromos.

    In the early 1990s UONA split from the OLF and launched its own group called Gumi, also to liberate the Oromo people.

    In the late 1990s and early 2000, many well respected OLF members such as Abiyu Galata and Ibsa Gutama left the OLF because
    they were not satisfied with the leadership. They created their own OLF.

    In the late 2000s, many Oromos and OSA members rejected the OLF leadership, and called for OLF to improve its leadership.

    In the late 2000s a group of OLF members called for change – jijjiirama, and left the OLF.

    In the early 2010, OLF members such as Bula in MN left the OLF. Now there is no more to support. All are gone. Until this time Prof. Asafa rejected ALL THE ABOVE and appeared as a favorite guest speaker on all OLF conferences. He praised the OLF openly, and contributed generously.

    Few months ago, the OLF Central Committee convened a conference and fired Lencho Lata. Within a month Asafa Jalata takes this populist but useless and reckless stand against the OLF.

    IG

  9. Abbas said,

    December 28, 2011 @ 10:50 pm

    I too have been wondering why the Prof. is so sharp all of a sudden.
    I like what he says, but he dragged the boat to the cliff and jumps before the kill.
    This is what I see.
    Abbas

  10. Hundee Dubbii said,

    December 30, 2011 @ 12:15 am

    The author was/?is part and parcel of the problem. Welcome home.

  11. Dawaa said,

    January 3, 2012 @ 9:04 pm

    Dear Prof,
    Many thanks and appreciations for your contributions/article. I urge you or anyone else who can translate this article to Afan Oromo because it should be read by all Oromos. I believe this piece will guide the Tokummaa for Oromummaa and Bilisummaa.
    Every oromo should read this paper and start to do with the discussion and dialogues among each other.
    I hope other oromo intellectuals like prof. Aseffa should contribute to come to our road- Oromo national movement for freedom.
    I hope when we mobilize our people under one umbrella and able to put the direction of our struggle in one and only one array (towards our enemies), we will drive the STRATEGY, TACTIC and RESOURCES how to win our enemies and achieve our objectives-Self determination.
    Finally, I like to put my own responsibility. Here I go:
    1) As a single oromo individual, let me liberate my self from those problems mentioned in the article by prof Aseffa and beyond. This can help me to think rational on oromo matter and develop consciousness.
    2) Let me start talking practically about the oromo issues and challenges in order to grasp ideas within my nearest peers and friends.
    3) Let me devote myself among (may be few)others individuals whose perceptions reach to overcome oromo cause/ problems. Then I hope a few individuals can engulf the whole and then we can mobilize Oromos from corner to corner.
    Here I go, please let us go together!!!

    Ammam iyyuu halkan dheeratu bari’uun hin oolu!
    History prevail that how long time it takes nations get free of their oppressors. Take an example South African Apartheid, they had got free after 82 years of struggle.

    Oromummaan haa lalistu,
    Oromiyaan Haa bilisoomtu!