In response to the Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki’s criticism of Abiy Ahmed’s Prosperity Party for hijacking Oromummaa for political purposes, some Oromo activists argued that Oromummaa has nothing to do with politics. They went on to explain that Oromummaa is about Oromo identity, culture, and heritage. This characterization of Oromummaa is correct. Yet, the argument that Oromummaa has not been abused by the Prosperity Party is flawed. Here is why.
Irreecha Celebration and the Claim to the Red Sea
Next to the Oromo Gadaa governance system, Irreecha is an important manifestation of Oromummaa. “It is a time of gratitude to Waaqa (the universal God) for the previous year’s blessings and a celebration of the end of winter and the beginning of spring (Birraa).” Yet, in recent years, Irreecha has become controversial. In a nutshell, it has become a venue where the Prosperity Party’s misguided and delusional war policies are unveiled.
When the President of the Oromo regional administration—and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s confidant—Shameless Abdissa said, “Next year, the Oromo will celebrate Irreecha at the Red Sea,” no one asked how or why. Ethiopia is a landlocked country. The only way the Oromo could celebrate Irreecha at the Red Sea would be by invading and occupying land that belongs to a neighboring country—Eritrea. This is clear evidence that Irreecha, a central component of Oromummaa, has been hijacked for political purposes. Those who deny this are not telling the truth.
Irreecha Celebration and the Defeat of the Amhara
During a previous Irreecha celebration, the same individual, Shameless Abdissa, boasted about how he used a strategy of confusion and manipulation on the Amhara elite, declaring that the Oromo defeated the Amhara and took power in Ethiopia. These examples are only the tip of the iceberg. If such issues are being celebrated at Irreecha, can the event still retain its original meaning?
Ethnic-Based Governance and Its Dangers
It is common for political leaders who assume power in Ethiopia to use their ethnic group for political gain. Emperors Menelik and Haile Selassie used the Amhara as instruments to maintain their grip on power. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front did the same. Now, the Prosperity Party is following in the footsteps of previous Ethiopian governing elites. It is using Oromummaa to advance its disastrous war policies and to strengthen its hold on power.
Hidden behind such ethnic abuse for political gain is the inevitable consequence: retaliation and revenge after those regimes fall. When the Tigray People’s Liberation Front assumed power in 1991, the Amhara were treated as remnants of the Menelik, Haile Selassie, and Mengistu regimes, and they suffered as a result. Their code name was “Neftenya,” meaning armed settler. The tragic part is that those regimes never truly benefited the Amhara people.
Similarly, the 2000–2002 Tigray civil war and its consequences on the Tigrayan population reflect the dangers of mixing politics with ethnicity.
Conclusion
The speech delivered by the President of Eritrea, Isaias Afwerki, during the 34th Eritrean Independence Day celebration, is a wake-up call for the Oromo population. The message is clear: the Prosperity Party is abusing Oromummaa, and it is time for the Oromo people to protect their identity, culture, and heritage.
Oromo opposition elites can speak about the true meaning of Oromummaa, but if they do not protect it from the abuse perpetrated by the Prosperity Party, the original meaning of Oromummaa may no longer be applicable.
The Eritrean People’s Liberation Front—the current government of Eritrea—worked with influential Oromo figures for decades. Additionally, the prominent Eritrean scholar Professor Asmerom Legesse was the first to publish books on the Oromo Gadaa governance system. Likewise, the late Eritrean laureate Tesfaye Gebreab made immense contributions to the advancement of Oromo literature.
Therefore, for Oromo elites to think that the Eritrean President does not understand what Oromo and Oromummaa are is simply self-deception.
Victory to the Masses and Eternal Glory to Our Martyrs.
