The Renaissance Book and Oromo Nationalism

Chapter 5- Times of Tigrayan Rule

This chapter examines the Tigrayan-dominated government which has ruled Ethiopia since 1991. It focuses on the crackdown on Oromo protests, the arrests of Oromo leaders and the killing of Oromo civilians by security forces in recent years. Allegations of torture, wrongful convictions and mistreatment in prisons are also covered. The demise of the Derg regime in 1991 raised hopes within the Oromo community of ending their long marginalization under Ethiopian rule. The new EPRDF government led by the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front promised democracy, equality and decentralized power.
However, the harsh authoritarianism of the Ethiopian state apparatus and centralized control from Addis Ababa remained largely unchanged under the EPRDF. The regime actively suppressed Oromo nationalism and dissent through violent crackdowns and pervasive surveillance.The EPRDF government promoted an ethnicity-based federalism that ostensibly provided autonomy and self-administration for Oromia and other regions. But key powers remained with the central state dominated by Tigrayan elites.
Oromo language and culture were nominally promoted. Use of the Oromo language in education and local governance increased. But Amharic remained dominant in higher domains, while tight controls limited free Oromo expression.While poverty decreased and literacy rose rapidly under EPRDF rule, Oromia still suffered from lack of investment and economic marginalization. Crony state capitalism benefitted regime-linked elites while repressing independent Oromo businesses.
Oromo farmers continued to face land expropriation and displacement as the government promoted large commercial farms and industrial parks. Questions over the bitterly contested Addis Ababa master plan triggered mass Oromo protests from 2014.The Qeerroo protest movement against repression and dispossession finally precipitated political change in 2018. However, hopes for genuine reform and inclusion of Oromo interests remain elusive as the old oppressive system largely endures within today's transitional government.

So while the post-Derg era saw some liberalization and decentralization, essential Oromo grievances still fester over autonomy, identity, land, political voice and equitable development on their ancestral territory. The Oromo struggle persists.Here are some additional details about the situation of the Oromo people in the post-Derg period under the EPRDF government: The Oromia regional state was established under ethnic federalism, but the ruling OPDO party was seen as ineffectual and subservient to the TPLF-dominated EPRDF coalition.The government practiced pervasive surveillance and control over Oromo society, coopting leaders, infiltrating communities and cracking down on nationalist dissent.
Restrictive laws like the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation were used to suppress independent Oromo political parties, civil society groups and media outlets critical of the EPRDF regime.Elections were held but marred by harassment of opposition candidates and supporters.
Oromos felt electoral competition was constrained under authoritarian TPLF influence.The Addis Ababa Master Plan to expand the municipal boundaries was perceived as a ploy to displace Oromo farmers through land expropriation and evictions around the capital.The government promoted large-scale land leasing to foreign agribusinesses and local state-linked enterprises, displacing subsistence farmers without adequate consent or compensation.The violent crackdown on Oromo protests from 2015-2018 resulted in mass detentions and hundreds of deaths. But protests eventually precipitated political change.
Abiy Ahmed becoming Prime Minister in 2018 raised hopes for reform but old guard repression persists, leading to disillusionment among Oromo activists about substantive change.Here are some additional details on the situation of Oromos in the post-Derg period under EPRDF rule:Oromo cultural festivals, holidays and rituals like Irreecha were allowed to be practiced again but faced interference and attempts at cooptation by the government.The Oromia Media Network and other independent Oromo media outlets faced harassment, interruptions and restrictions even as they expanded their reach and influence.
Oromo students and youth continued to be strong voices of dissent against the authoritarian state and faced crackdowns, arrests, expulsions and restrictions.The uprising of the Qeerroo youth protesters was fueled by grievances over lack of economic opportunities and political voice beyond corrupt state channels.
The government expanded infrastructure like roads, electricity and telecom access in Oromia but cronyism funneled gains to TPLF and OPDO linked companies and elites.Oromo farmers bore the brunt of recurrent droughts, flood, poor harvests and famine as government support was weak and relief aid politicized.Persistent questions remain around political devolution, language rights, representation in federal institutions, and territorial autonomy for Oromia within the wider Ethiopian state framework.
The legacy of historic Oromo grievances against the Ethiopian state endures irrespective of the change in ruling party from Derg to EPRDF.So while some gains were made, substantive change in the oppressive system was still lacking under the EPRDF, fueling continuing Oromo protests.Here are a few more details I can provide about the situation of the Oromo people under EPRDF rule:The government practiced pervasive surveillance of the Oromo population through party cadres, informants and security forces penetrating deeply into communities.
Oromo nationalism continued to be seen as a threat to the regime and was severely repressed. Independent Oromo civic groups and clubs faced harassment and closure.Significant Oromo political leaders remained imprisoned, killed, or forced into exile throughout EPRDF rule until after major reforms in 2018.The legislature and judiciary continued to be dominated by non-Oromo officials adhering to the ruling party line, limiting Oromo voice in higher institutions.Oromo media produce programs through OMN and diaspora channels but jamming and restrictions limited domestic Oromo audiences under EPRDF.Travel restrictions, bureaucratic obstacles and harassment targeted Oromo businessmen to suppress their economic independence and prosperity.
Party-approved Oromo artists and musicians were promoted to create an image of cultural freedom while independent voices faced censorship.The military, security and intelligence leadership remained dominated by TPLF loyalists suspicious of Oromo allegiance despite makeup of rank and file.
Reconciliation and acknowledgement of historic injustices against Oromos remained lacking under EPRDF rule and its prescribed narratives.So overall, the authoritarian features of the Ethiopian state persisted under the EPRDF even as it claimed to be more inclusive than the Derg era.
The EPRDF era from 1991-2018 saw some positive changes like increased use of the Oromo language, establishment of Oromia state, rapid economic growth and expanded infrastructure.However, the underlying authoritarian structure of the Ethiopian state remained largely intact under the EPRDF government dominated by the TPLF.Key powers stayed centralized in the federal government and the ruling coalition maintained tight control over Oromia through the OPDO and security forces. Dissent, activism and nationalism among Oromos were suppressed using state violence, detentions, legislation, surveillance and other repressive means.
Issues around self-determination, land rights, marginalization, language rights and representation remained unresolved sources of tension and unrest.The historic Oromo grievances against the Ethiopian state persisted irrespective of progress made in some areas like education, health and roads under EPRDF rule.Significant change only came after years of intense Oromo protests led by youth which toppled the EPRDF government in 2018.So in summary, while some gains were made, the oppressive system created under Menelik and continued under Haile Selassie, the Derg and EPRDF remained largely in place through the post-Derg period in Ethiopia.
Oromo Prosecution Under Tigray Rules of the persecution and prosecution of Oromos under Tigrayan rule in Ethiopia:In 1991, the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front (TPLF) overthrew the Derg military regime and took control of the Ethiopian government.Although the TPLF rule was supposed to be a more democratic era, Oromos faced many of the same repressive policies and human rights abuses.The TPLF dominated the ruling EPRDF coalition and promoted Tigrayan ethnic interests over Oromos and other groups.
Oromo nationalism continued to be seen as a threat. Oromo political leaders were imprisoned, killed or forced into exile.The Oromo language and cultural rights continued to be restricted. Use of Afaan Oromo was discouraged in schools and government institutions.
The Oromia region was subjected to tight political control. Oromo media outlets were monitored and suppressed. Protests were met with violence.Land grabbing and eviction of Oromo farmers occurred as the government sold off land to foreign investors.The Oromo people largely remained economically marginalized under TPLF rule, despite some progress in infrastructure and services.
Human rights abuses, mass detentions and violent crackdowns on dissent continued in Oromia sparking further outrage.Eventually, sustained Oromo protests led to political reforms and Abiy Ahmed becoming Prime Minister in 2018, loosening TPLF's grip on power.additional details on the persecution of Oromos under TPLF rule:
The TPLF-dominated government continued the long-standing policies of suppression against Oromo culture, language, and political voice. The Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) party remained banned.Oromo students and activists were closely monitored. The government cracked down harshly on any Oromo protests or dissent, leading to mass arrests and violence.
The Ethiopian Constitution was supposed to provide language rights and self-administration for Oromia. However, the TPLF ignored articles protecting Oromo interests and rights.The government maintained firm control over Oromia's administration and security forces.
Oromo nationalist leaders were excluded from positions of power.Many Oromos were jailed, tortured and subjected to extrajudicial killings. Security forces acted with impunity against perceived Oromo dissidents.Oromo media outlets were shut down and journalists harassed and imprisoned. Only state-approved narratives could be published or broadcasted.The expansion of Addis Ababa's boundaries into Oromo areas was enacted unilaterally, sparking strong Oromo anger and mass demonstrations in 2014-15.Let me know if you need any clarification or have additional questions! I can provide more examples of TPLF's oppressive measures against Oromos.the key policies and events including:
• Suppression of Oromo language, culture, identity and nationalism
• Crackdowns on Oromo dissent, protests and activism
• Imprisonment, killing or exile of Oromo political leaders
• Tight control over Oromia region administration and security forces
• Human rights abuses and violence against Oromo civilians
• Banning and suppression of Oromo media outlets
• Land grabbing in Oromia leading to farmer dispossession
• Ignoring/violating constitutional rights and self-administration protections
• Continued economic marginalization of the Oromo population
• Impunity for security forces committing abuses against Oromos
The main ways the TPLF regime continued the systemic persecution and domination of Oromos despite some democratic progress in Ethiopia post-1991. The repressive measures fueled increasing Oromo discontent.Without more specific guidance, I have provided the full scope of details I can offer regarding the prosecution of Oromos under TPLF authoritarian rule until their fall from power in 2018. Please let me know if there are any particular policies, events or impacts you want me to expand on further.
Under imperial rulers like Menelik II and Haile Selassie, Oromos faced military conquest, land dispossession, political marginalization, bans on their language and culture, loss of autonomy, and violence for any resistance.Later under the Derg military regime and the TPLF-dominated EPRDF government, Oromos continued to face systemic repression, human rights abuses, lack of political rights, tight control over their affairs, and crackdowns on any dissent.In each era, Oromos were targeted for persecution and prosecution by central state authorities in Ethiopia who saw Oromo identity and nationalism as threats to their power. This led to long-term impacts like poverty, underdevelopment, and struggle for self-determination.
During the TPLF-dominated EPRDF governmentthe major forms of persecution, discrimination, human rights abuses, cultural/linguistic suppression, loss of rights and autonomy, violent crackdowns, and long-term impacts faced by Oromos under the various Ethiopian leaders and governments.