“The blood flowing in Oromia is our blood too”: Why Oromo-Amhara
solidarity is the greatest threat to the Ethiopian government
Posted on September 27, 2016 by Awol Allo
For decades, the ruling party has governed by pitting the Oromo and
Amhara against one another. Now the two groups are joining forces
against the government.
Protests in Ethiopia have been ongoing since November 2015.
Protests in Ethiopia have been ongoing since November 2015.
“There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where
decades happen,” said Lenin, describing the Bolshevik revolution. For
Ethiopia, the start of August 2016 saw such a week – one that will go
down in Ethiopian history as a moment in which a grassroots movement
achieved in days what organised elites have not been able to achieve
in two decades.
In that week, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in
unprecedented numbers to protest against decades of abuse,
discrimination, and marginalisation. This was the culmination of a
wave of protests that began nearly ten months ago and has since
continued in Amhara and Oromia, two of the country’s most populous
regions.
The government responded by dismissing the protesters as agents of
foreign forces directed from Eritrea and Egypt, and it deployed armed
forces into civilian centres, leading to the deaths of over 600
people, according to estimates, and the arrests of many more.
[Ethiopia’s unprecedented nationwide Oromo protests: who, what, why?]
Despite this disproportionate and excessive force, however, protests
and strikes have endured, with a movement of movements mobilising a
new generation, tapping into a groundswell of shared discontent. At
the heart of this activism is a burgeoning solidarity between the
Oromo and Amhara ethnic groups, who make up around two-thirds of the
country’s population combined and have begun to come together despite
longstanding historical differences.
This convergence has alarmed the government, but how far can
collective action based on shared grievances rather than a coherent
set of shared ideals and visions go?
Divide and rule
Ethiopia is an assemblage of diverse ethnic and cultural groups. But
historically, up to around the 1970s, ‘Greater Ethiopia’ pursued a
policy of ethnic homogenisation in which Amhara identity became the
identity par excellence, pushing others to the periphery.
In particular, the Oromos, the country’s largest ethno-national group,
were not treated as equal partners and did not have influence
commensurate with their demographic, geographic, and economic
contribution. These asymmetries helped fuel the historic antagonism
between the two groups.
Since coming to power in 1991, the current government – led by the
Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) – has instrumentalised this
rivalry as a political weapon. It has created a governing narrative in
which Amharas and Oromos are eternal adversaries, representing an
existential threat to the future of the Ethiopian state and stability
of the region.
Oromos are framed as secessionists who represent a clear and present
danger to the unity and sovereignty of Ethiopia, while the Amharas are
presented as chauvinist and violent, working towards the resurrection
and re-imposition of the old Medieval-type empire.
Within this narrative frame, the ruling party, dominated by ethnic
Tigrayan elites, becomes a beacon of stability and unity in diversity.
“The blood flowing in Oromia is our blood too”
For 25 years, the ruling party has relied on these myths to sow the
seeds of division. But this is now beginning to unravel.
[Behind the Ethiopia protests: A view from inside the government]
The violent response of the ruling party to both the Amhara and Oromo
protests has brought into sharp focus the shared vulnerability of the
oppressed in Ethiopia. The mutual experience of loss and suffering has
generated intense collective emotions, exposing the porous nature of
the faultlines that both divide and unite the two communities.
As the violence of the state has intensified, former arch-foes have
set aside their mutual rivalry to congregate and endure with one
another. An extraordinary groundswell of solidarity is emerging at all
levels, exposing the shaky foundation of the regime.
“We are all Oromos”, “I am not Oromo but I stand with my Oromo
brothers”, “Amhara is ours, Oromo is ours”, “The blood flowing in
Oromia is our blood too” are just some of the many expressions of
solidarity declared at rallies.
These are not just words, but actions that exist as words, actions
that threaten to unsettle the myths that hold together the ideological
edifice of the system. They are words that go beyond the repressive
and divisive discourses of the state to create conditions for a
collective politics and new forms of alliances. They are gestures that
seek to imagine a different kind of world.
At the same time, Oromo and Amhara protestors have also begun to hold
solidarity rallies together, flying their respective flags – both
symbols of resistance – alongside one another. No collective action is
more destabilising to the narrative of the state than the joint
appearance of these two symbols, which entered the country’s political
imagination as antithetical and irreconcilable.
A regime that seemed invincible has begun to tremble at this sight,
with officials expressing their disgust and fury at these two symbols
of resistance being presented together. For instance, Government
Communications Minister Getachew Reda expressed his outrage at the
alliance between Oromos and Amharas and his government’s determination
to destroy it, describing it as “unholy” and a “gamble”.
Dilemmas of unity
While politically significant, however, the solidarity we are
currently seeing is not based on a shared vision so much as shared
grievances. Oromo and Amhara elites have been at an impasse in
discussions for the last two decades and have not been able to build
up mutual trust to confront contentious issues of historical and
political significance.
While mainstream Amhara politicians insist on national unity as a
condition for collaboration, Oromo nationalists reject these demands
on the basis that there is not yet a shared set of democratic values,
principles and ideals that could ‘unite’ the two groups. They insist
that any values that are shared between the groups did not emerge out
of a relationship of equality and therefore should not be the starting
point for a new vision.
This lack of consensus may seem like a weakness, but it is crucial to
note that these long-standing historical disagreements do not need to
be definitively resolved in order for the two groups to come together
to chart the best route for the future. In fact, the arduous task of
coming to terms with a contested past requires a robust and inclusive
debate that can only happen within a democratic state capable of
reconciling social conflicts according to shared rules.
However, to create this democratic platform, the Ethiopian people must
first be released from the weight of oppression imposed by Tigrean
elites. And neither Oromos nor Amharas need surrender their identities
to pursue this goal. In fact, in multi-ethnic countries like Ethiopia
where identities are co-opted by the powers that be, those same
identities become the very crucibles that provide the energy and
passion for the struggle.
Solidarity is not about oneness, but building cross-cultural
understanding, tolerance, respect and acceptance of differences.
Accordingly then, Oromos and Amharas are increasingly accepting
solidarity, not unity, as the principle underpinning their collective
actions.
Contrary to some fears, there is great strength in these weak ties,
and this emerging solidarity – incipient and precarious as it is –
represents the greatest threat to the regime’s long-standing policy of
divide and rule.
Dr Awol Kassim Allo is Lecturer in Law at Keele University.
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28 thoughts on ““The blood flowing in Oromia is our blood too”: Why
Oromo-Amhara solidarity is the greatest threat to the Ethiopian
government”
Moges says:
September 27, 2016 at 1:08 pm
It is a well areticulated piece which is more powerful than a holo
book . Keep it up to bringing the concerns of Oromo and Amhara as
manifested in their solidarity. Freedom, ultimately, belongs with
those driven by truth and neglected for no reason.
Thank you!
Aschalew says:
September 27, 2016 at 1:59 pm
The author himself has in clear terms supported what Ato Getachew
has said, “unholy” when he says, this solidarity is not based on
mutual trust and unity. Is not the sloga of EPRDF also unity in
diversity? This narrow minded layer has not brought anything new but
only trying to put is share of fueling the animosity among Ethiopian
people if different nationalities.
Abas says:
September 27, 2016 at 2:11 pm
it is well organized and clearly shows the importance of oromo-
Amhara unity based on shared values.
Good job Awelo.
Ethiopian says:
September 27, 2016 at 2:27 pm
Great article. The blood spilling in the country is all our blood.
I agree the solidarity between the two major tribes is the greatest
menace to TPLF’s divide and rule strategy. It is my strong belief that
the two tribes could build trust as they work together fighting
against the common enemy. I am Amhara and am tired of TPLF saying the
Amhara rulers traded in my name. To me it is TPLF through the so
called “Amahara national democratic movement” which is trading in my
name. It fights for TPLF’s interest but trades in my name as does OPDO
trading in Oromo’s name while it truly represents TPLF’s interest.
Yalew says:
September 27, 2016 at 3:08 pm
Oromo and Amhara do not need to have a cultural and historical
merge in order to build a democratic country. Democracy is a system
whereby different groups can live in collaboration without necessarily
destroying their natural and God given identities. It is a positive
thing to Ethiopia that these people groups are coming to understanding
the current political system is their sole existential enemy. The
Amhara people should stop being over-concerned about the unity of the
country. They have to assert their ethnic identity and continue to
work for their group interest. If these two groups are able to accept
one another, they can make a great country in which another minority
groups will benefit from. The Amhara suffered a lot for keeping the
unity of the country at the expense of their group identity. They are
now being attacked and persecuted because of their ethnic identity.
Amhara should not pay unnecessary price in order to keep a country in
which the people of Amhara are considered as bigots for the last
twenty-five years. We should help ourselves first before we cry about
other things. We are in existential threat for the last twenty-five
years. While we cry and die for one Ethiopia, others have been working
for the elimination of Amhara. We should not be foolhardy. This is a
God-sent opportunity to reflect on our past political struggles and
realign ourselves with our Oromo brothers struggle. We should not see
the Oromo right movements as a national threat or as a threat to
Amhara. We should learn from Oromo right movements and reconcile our
shared vision of Ethiopia. As far as I know, a true Amhara does not
seek to impose his or her culture on others but believes in a shared
democratic values. Let us build the new Ethiopia on a shared value and
vision with our Oromo brothers. Amhara and Oromo should start afresh
by learning from their past shared suffering and marginalization. Let
them work for a stable and democratic Ethiopia in which people’s
rights and privileges are respected. Both groups have the cultural
heritage to do so. I encourage both groups to show leadership in this
matter.
olanaa says:
September 27, 2016 at 3:29 pm
Well articulated given the size of the presentation.
It is prudent to add that the two biggest ethino-nationals need to
display mutual respect at its highest civility in order to move
forward and bring a meaningful change in the long term. The bottomline
is that it is better to buy into the ideals being propagated at
grassroots level which the autor tightly observed could bethe stimulai
to give the current public demand take the shortest pass to victory.
abdurahaman says:
September 27, 2016 at 3:38 pm
Very good analysis. He ariticulated and pointed out the long lived
differences between the two largest groups.
Jamal says:
September 27, 2016 at 4:42 pm
Very well done article based on the fact on the ground and
relationships between people and regime. We hope from shared
grievances and shared solidarity will come common understand of Amara
and Oromoo people.
Ralf Zimmerman says:
September 27, 2016 at 7:01 pm
Mr. Aschalew very well said as per the article of the author Awol
Kasim Alo… We totally disagree because he takes small events and
amplifies them to feed anger… Ethiopia has seen a tremendous growth in
the last 10 years! Like us many foreigners invest in rural country and
Addis Abeba itself. The government gave long ago SELF RULE to these
ethnic groups in their own environment! We cooperate with all groups
very well and we have not seen any real problem at all ! Of course if
you are with the opposition you will find things to grumble, even in
Germany we always had that…
Tekle T. Berhan says:
September 27, 2016 at 9:37 pm
Awol Allo is at it again, the canard that TPLF is to blame for the
problems in Ethiopia, although the country is run by EPRDF (a
coalition of all ethnic groups). He seems to have this irrational
venom and hostility towards Tigreas. I sense that Awol’s ethnic
identity is probably Oromo. And now, he is justifying/encouraging
ethnic uprising of Oromos and Amharas which would plunge the country
into chaos. Awol the PhD writes like an arsonist. Shameful.
Toltu says:
September 28, 2016 at 1:25 am
Mr. Ralf Zimmerman, it sounds like you are blind to what’s really
going on in Ethiopia. It has been the intervention of some short-
sighted and ignorant foreigners like you who have been a problem to
Ethiopia’s peace, not only since the TPLF came to power, but for over
a century. I am surprised people like you still exist who support an
oppressive government on the expense of oppressed people. I wish
people like you refrain from being involved in the issues such as
these. Keep in mind that the suffering that the Ethiopian peoples,
especially the Oromo are experiencing didn’t start only 25 years ago.
It is a result of century’s long oppressive system which foreigners
are a part of by endlessly supporting bad governments. But now some of
them have come to realize their mistakes and taking the side of the
oppressed people to condemn such governments. But you sound very
backward still!
Mirab says:
September 28, 2016 at 6:15 am
This narrow minded people are still ignoring the various ethnic
groups of Ethiopia like the wolaita, sidama, hadya, afar, somali,
gurage, gambella, benishangul, hadiya, kembata, and soon. This sort of
regrouping one ethnic with another group will never take you far
except that it will farther elaborate your racist ideology which you
have demonstrated in the Amhara region. So, I thing you better bring a
noble idea that will unite the people from north to south and from
east to west. If not I think you will celebrate the golden jubilee of
Woyane without bearing any fruit.
Yonas says:
September 28, 2016 at 6:26 am
Thanks Dr. Awol. Happy to read such articles written by educated
man!! It’s well articulated. I will not add but fully agree on Yalew’s
comment and compliment. Thumbs Up!!
A.A.A says:
September 28, 2016 at 7:07 am
Thank you for your concern regarding these two groups being not
only marginalized but also they are the most being imprisoned,
tortured, died and psychosis ed by this minority ruling party. I hope
you will come up with those articles which can expose much which is
under occasion. You can get more plenty of videos, photos and articles
from the two group activists which help you more informed.
Anbessa says:
September 28, 2016 at 7:07 am
This shows that you are in a desperate condition to bring down the
woyane regime with the full support of shaebiya and egypt. However
still you don’t understand the strength of woyane to reverse any sort
of racist ideology like the one that was implemented in gonder by
shaebiya and its foot soldiers. That is why you don’t really make any
progress while you are fighting in full scale for more than 25 years.
I am sure this current plan of struggle will not be successful for the
reason that even you don’t have the appetite to bring unity within the
Amahara people (gondere, gojame, woleye, agew, Kimant etc) and among
the oromos (bale, arsi, welega, illu aba bora, kotu, shewa, borena,
etc.) let alone to bring these two large ethnic groups together.
Therefore, don’t waste our time in vain for such kind of nonsense
idea.
yemane says:
September 28, 2016 at 7:11 am
u are talking about amhara and oromos as the most core people in
this nation. But u simply leave the other people of the nation. What
does it mean? Who pays blood for this nation to exist as nation? u can
not answer this question because u are extremists
.
Bayissa says:
September 28, 2016 at 8:15 am
Thank you Dr. Awol for presenting the reality prevailing there in
Ethiopia. Everyone should welcome the solidarity but not at the
expense of losing one’s basic values. Oromos have been demanding
democracy, equality and justice to be established in the country. The
essences of democracy and equality are so fundamental that no one
would compromise. What Oromos are asking today e.g. language, cultural
issues should not be threat for any peaceful non-Oromos living in
Ethiopia, as a federal country. At least one can think that their
numerical majority can allow them to exercise their right pretty well.
I would say these issues are the minimum demands Oromos are claiming
for. Discussion and mutual understanding is key to strengthen the
solidarity which is now at its infant stage.
Gere says:
September 28, 2016 at 9:03 am
Dear Awol,
Why do you always refer to the old generation Amharans (if at all
they are truly so) as representative of the Amharan people’s idea?
Specifically you said mainstream Amhara politicians go about national
unity. Why don’t you refer to the needs and thinking of the new
generation of Amharan politicians whop give priority for Amhara as an
Amhara than calling for national unity? I think you are talking only
the old, detached and unrealistic diaspora politicians who claim to be
Amhara but for who are not truely Amharans for the large majority of
the new generation of Amharans. So please update yourself and open
your eyes to see the true Amharans who want to live together with
other ethnic groups but importantly think about Amhara than Ethiopian
unity.
Njunga Michael Mulikita says:
September 28, 2016 at 9:18 am
So is the author suggesting that Ethiopia be balkanized into
several new ethnic states? I would like him to comment on this
possibility.
First Eritrea seceded in 1993, does he not see the possibility of
the break up of the Ethiopian State as we know it?
Kassa says:
September 28, 2016 at 11:24 am
It’s well articulated but not realistic as the current wish-bond
between the two groups doesn’t come from inside but outside.External
forces who knows well that they can’t see weak Ethiopia with out
removing the current Government are trying to show that this two
groups are co-operating ,knowing well that they can’t survive
unified-THE AMHARA CHAVUNISIM-OROMO NARRWOISM’
CAN YOU REMOVE THE WORD “GALA” FROM AMHARA DICTIONARY, NOT IN 1000 YRS…
Lets think beyond this if we really need strong unified Ethiopia
Adal says:
September 28, 2016 at 11:27 am
I am really upset with the doctors’ article. In the first place
why you do not want to see Ethiopians as an entity rather than seeing
Ethiopians based on their ethnicity.
As we know that Ethiopia as a nation exists for the last three
thousand years. Ethiopian identity is a deep rooted identity to the
soul of Ethiopians for the last three thousand years. Millions has
sacrificed their precious life for this identity and this country .The
identity of Ethiopia is a symbol of freedom and resistance for
Africans, blacks and the whole oppressed nations. All of them they
were inspired by Ethiopians ; for instance, Mandela,kenyatta, nukruhma
, Mao, the Rastafarian movement and so on. Ethiopia is a country which
has never colonized . At the same time Ethiopia is a blessed nation by
the two great religions Christianity and Islam. Ethiopia as a country
has granted an asylum to the prophet Mohameds’ family and his
followers . When the prophet , his followers and Islam were in danger
, The Ethiopians were there .
Having said that recently a lot of fabricated histories have been
told , or written purposely by paid agents in the name of ‘scholars’.
I do not want to go in detail but What does awol wants to narrate
, The question of unity suffocated to one tribe (amhara) . It is
wrong. He is telling us there are two flags , Do amhars got another
flag separately , the same thing for oromos. Both of them they do not
have flag , their flag is Ethiopian flag.
We saw in the demonstration one flag which is an Ethiopian flag
and the other is a banner of OLF ( a political organization ). I do
not know what type of message awol wants to send. At the
demonstration; according to your analysis , it means that the
Ethiopian flag belongs to amharas. Who is taking that flag as their
flag is only the amharas. It is shame , all Ethiopians scarified their
precious life to defend this flag , it is their flag . As afar said it
” Let alone we afars , even our camels know our Ethiopian flag”
When we are referring to our recent history , in the 19 /20 th
century Ethiopian history , almost all of the ethiopian leaders were
either oromos or with oromo lineages. for instance Emperor minilik
half oromo, Empress zeweditu half oromo, Lij eyassu half oromo,
Emperor Haileselasse the son of mekonen weldemichael gudissa 3/4
oromo,mengistu hailemaryam 50% oromo . Almost more than 60% of
ethiopian generals were full oromos or have got an oromo lineage like
ras Gobena, fitawrari gebeyhu, fitawrari habtegirorgis dingde,
fitawrari balcha…
ras abebe aregay , general abebe gemeda, general merdassa lelissa,
general erikyhun bayssa, general regassa jimma, general jagema kelo,
general regassa jima, general mulugeta buli…are some of them.
The oromos were the leaders in building the modern Ethiopian nation .
The Ethiopian discourse belongs to all Ethiopians, not only for
amharas and oromos . According to your analysis, It seems that you
side lined the other Ethiopians . Any how i advice you to see
Ethiopians as Ethiopians beyond their ethnicity. At the end of the day
we Ethiopians are intertwined , no body could separate us.
Gomerwa Demelash says:
September 28, 2016 at 12:35 pm
For all genuine and enlightened popular struggles, the determinant
requirement for its success is the righteous program and honest common
vision. From this perspective, this article is highly short sighted,
full of hatred, extremely racist and arduously working for the benefit
of Ethiopia’s arch enemies who doesn’t want to see further democratic,
social and economic progress of the country.
Blessing Toall says:
September 28, 2016 at 1:58 pm
So what is the point of your article? Do you think the problem is
only for OROMIA and AMHARA groups only? And you are talking about
unity? I think you should rewrite your article including every ethnic
of Ethiopians. Very offensive article. I have blood of Amhara,
Oromia,Tigria Guraga . Which side do you want me to take? I thought we
are fighting to stop divisions. Your article makes me think the two
groups which is the Oromia and Amhara joining together to destroy the
other ethinc groups. As Ethiopians to fight the government we should
be united all the Ethiopians together. May God help us to love one
another not to hate.
Gemeda says:
September 28, 2016 at 2:52 pm
Good point Yalew: Amharas must cease imposing or wishing to impose
their version of UNITY. People in that country need respect and
understanding of each other. This must the platform to begin any
longterm discussion; hence, if all people start to see themselves as a
partner rather than as a Uniting force or more patriotic than other,
the road ahead will be much smother. Let’s all begin to examine our
rules in shaping the future of the country.
tsehay says:
September 28, 2016 at 3:41 pm
TPLF junta is a dangerous and cruel organization, yes I repeat the
term “Organization”, who is trained and equipped with a weapon of mass
terrorizing and destruction and has been killing innocent people
asking for their fundamental rights. The untold horrifying killings
going on unreported once exposed will horrify the world which will be
too late.
Sorsa says:
September 28, 2016 at 4:29 pm
To Ralf Zimmerman:
Ralf,
Of course you can’t see any problems because by the time you
arrived in Ethiopia the land had been cleared for you at gun point.
In fact the US, Germany, UK, China, Netherlands, India, World
Bank, IMF and greedy so-called “investors” like you are the
international enemies of the Ethiopian people and obstacles to peace
democracy in Ethiopia!!
The “SELF RULE” you wrote in upper cases is just what you were
told. It doesn’t not exist on the ground. Tens of thousands of
children wouldn’t have have died of gun shots by the terrorist state
soldiers if people ruled themselves.
Millions of people wouldn’t have been displaced and their land
given to you to satisfy you if the people ruled themselves.
Tens of thousands of refugees would not have died fleeing the
regime if people ruled themselves.
I think you still have a long way to understand why people set
flower farms on fire. I am very sure your investment will be next if
you remain ignorant.
European governments hates immigrants reaching Europe, but these
governments are the very source of trouble in Africa and beyond by
providing terrorist states like Ethiopia with political, diplomatic,
military, logistic and financial support while enjoying full democracy
themselves.
Wossene Bowler says:
September 29, 2016 at 4:21 am
If there is no united Ethiopia there is no Amhara or Oromo or any
other tribe . We should work together genuinely to bring the country
together. Yes ! Amhara been pushed, oppressed for trying to unite the
country. Remember we won Italy because we stood up as one united
Ethiopia with no modern wore equipment. We can win again as one united
Ethiopia .They are scared . Yes!! they should be .There is no limit to
what we can do together we proofed it before.
Yalew says:
September 29, 2016 at 3:10 pm
Peace!
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