Seenaa Jimjimo, Executive Director of OLLAA – After working to advance human rights within Ethiopia for years, it was deeply disappointing to read the recent briefing by Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman, the U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa regarding the conflict in Ethiopia, in which he discussed his attempts to negotiate with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the TPLF. Much could be said about the content of the briefing, but what is most interesting is the insight it gave to the general U.S. approach to diplomacy in Ethiopia, and throughout the Horn of Africa. One has to wonder why the U.S. is continuing to placate a leader who has openly committed ethnic cleansing and violations of civilians’ basic human rights? What is clear is that little has changed in the U.S.’s approach over the last hundred years, and that it is continuing to utilize the same playbook that got Ethiopia to where it is today, at the brink of civil war. As frequently noted, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” If we are ever to hope for lasting peace and stability in Ethiopia, the U.S. must rethink its strategy.
In 2016, I founded the Oromo Legacy Leadership & Advocacy Association, which, alongside the Oromo diaspora community, has fought to raise awareness of the plight of the Oromo and other ethnic groups in Ethiopia. We have continually called for the U.S. to recognize the human rights abuses perpetrated against the Oromo and others in the southern regions of the country, the humanitarian situation in Oromia, and to take measures to hold the Ethiopian government accountable for its failures to protect its people. Sadly, we have continued to be disappointed by U.S. officials, who so often fail to raise these concerns publicly. Although we have seen an increase in the number of officials willing to acknowledge such challenges privately, that internal acknowledgement has failed to lead to lasting changes to U.S. policy
The Oromo makeup at least 60% of the Ethiopian population. Despite their size, they have faced oppression at the hands of successive regimes. Even today, the Oromo account for approximately 90% of Ethiopia’s prison population, and only account for 15% of the bureaucracy. The continued ill-treatment of the Oromo by Ethiopia, one of the “oldest nations”, points to the reason why democracy has continued to fail in Africa and other developing nations. How can democracy be sustained when governments continue to persecute citizens of their own country? Some African dictators have claimed that democracy is too luxurious for Africa. I don’t believe this statement is true, but I wonder at the foreign policy of western nations that so often prioritizes political interests over democracy and human rights. Western national interests might be part of the new colonialism that remained to shackle Africa.
The Oromo are concentrated in Oromia, a region that is rich in natural resources and provides the majority of the country’s wheat supply. As such, maintaining safety and stability in Oromia is necessary in order to ensure stability throughout the entire Horn of Africa. OLLAA firmly believes that, as long as the Oromo remain oppressed, violence and instability will continue throughout Ethiopia, even if the war in the northern regions comes to an end.
Despite this, the U.S. has continued to ignore the calls of the Oromo for justice instead of turning a blind eye to human rights abuses perpetrated under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s administration. In 2018, only seven months after coming to power following protests led by Oromo youth, the Ethiopian government established military command posts in Oromia. Various groups, including the U.S. State Department, Amnesty International, and OLLAA have reported that security forces associated with these command posts have committed human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings and arbitrary arrests and detentions. However, few in the U.S. have called attention to these abuses. As noted by Abiy on multiple occasions, this silence showed that he could do what he wished to the Oromo, and other ethnic groups, so long as he did not infringe on the rights of those in the northern regions.
The U.S. has also ignored the targeting of Oromo political activists and protesters by Ethiopian security forces, including following the assassination of Hachalu Hundessa in 2020. During this period, leaders of the non-violent, pro-democracy Oromo political opposition, such as Jawar Mohammed and Bekele Gerba, were arrested. If the U.S. had rallied behind these leaders, they could have been a force for democracy and peaceful opposition within Ethiopian society. Instead, they have been left to languish in cells for years. Given the growing instability of Ethiopia, their very lives are at risk, and still, U.S. officials fail to publicly call for their release. If the U.S. wishes to call for peace and stability throughout Ethiopia, shouldn’t they call for the inclusion of these actors, who have served as a voice for peace and democracy, at the table?
In recent months, the U.S. has focused much of its attention on the humanitarian situation in northern Ethiopia. Much of USAID’s budgeted $1.3 billion in aid to Ethiopia has gone to the northern regions, including a recent designation of an additional $149 million for humanitarian assistance specifically in Tigray. While OLLAA understands the unique needs of the Tigray region in these times, we regret that USAID has largely ignored the fact that the humanitarian crisis is not limited to regions that have been directly affected by the war. Hunger and famine conditions are a growing concern in Oromia, both caused by environmental factors, such as the drought, and exacerbated by measures taken by Ethiopian security forces in order to sustain their troops, including the forcible conscription of youth and looting supplies and funds from civilians.
Oddly, even now that the Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF) and Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) have entered into an alliance, the U.S. has continued to ignore the Oromo. Although the Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa recently met with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the TPLF, he did not meet with the OLA or other Oromo-affiliated groups. If the ultimate aim of these negotiations is to set the path towards an inclusive dialogue to determine the future direction of the country, one must wonder how this can be accomplished if the lead-up to such a dialogue continues to ignore the needs of 60% of the population?
It seems shortsighted of the U.S. to fail to recognize that the Oromo represent a significant political force in Ethiopia. Although they have all-too-frequently been treated like a minority, they comprise the majority of Ethiopia’s population, and ultimately, they will decide the future direction of the country. When that time comes, how will the Oromo be able place their trust in the U.S. as an ally if they feel the U.S. has long ignored their needs?
It is important to understand that failure to call out violence against Oromo has not only emboldened Abiy and depressed the Oromo masses, but has also paralyzed the Oromo elites to be self-centered, focusing on the Oromo plight. Ignoring the plights of two-thirds of the entire population has led to almost the dissolution of Ethiopia and the chaos in the region the world now sees. The international community should note that its failure to support and speak up for Oromo, especially the pro-democracy and nonviolent groups, has certainly stripped Oromo and all Ethiopians from the peace and stability the West seeks for Ethiopia.
Today, for the first time, OLLAA publicly calls on the U.S. to change course. It has the power to avert catastrophe in Ethiopia, but in order to do so, it cannot continue to ignore the Oromo, who comprise the majority of the Ethiopian population. Officials must publicly condemn the human rights abuses faced by the Oromo and take steps to ensure their protection, including by calling for accountability for the abuses they have suffered and ensure that humanitarian assistance is provided to all who need it across Ethiopia.”
IN ORDER TO AVERT CATASTROPHE IN ETHIOPIA, THE UNITED STATES MUST STOP IGNORING THE MAJORITY
Seenaa Jimjimo, Executive Director of OLLAA – After working to advance human rights within Ethiopia for years, it was deeply disappointing to read the recent briefing by Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman, the U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa regarding the conflict in Ethiopia, in which he discussed his attempts to negotiate with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the TPLF. Much could be said about the content of the briefing, but what is most interesting is the insight it gave to the general U.S. approach to diplomacy in Ethiopia, and throughout the Horn of Africa. One has to wonder why the U.S. is continuing to placate a leader who has openly committed ethnic cleansing and violations of civilians’ basic human rights? What is clear is that little has changed in the U.S.’s approach over the last hundred years, and that it is continuing to utilize the same playbook that got Ethiopia to where it is today, at the brink of civil war. As frequently noted, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” If we are ever to hope for lasting peace and stability in Ethiopia, the U.S. must rethink its strategy.
In 2016, I founded the Oromo Legacy Leadership & Advocacy Association, which, alongside the Oromo diaspora community, has fought to raise awareness of the plight of the Oromo and other ethnic groups in Ethiopia. We have continually called for the U.S. to recognize the human rights abuses perpetrated against the Oromo and others in the southern regions of the country, the humanitarian situation in Oromia, and to take measures to hold the Ethiopian government accountable for its failures to protect its people. Sadly, we have continued to be disappointed by U.S. officials, who so often fail to raise these concerns publicly. Although we have seen an increase in the number of officials willing to acknowledge such challenges privately, that internal acknowledgement has failed to lead to lasting changes to U.S. policy
The Oromo makeup at least 60% of the Ethiopian population. Despite their size, they have faced oppression at the hands of successive regimes. Even today, the Oromo account for approximately 90% of Ethiopia’s prison population, and only account for 15% of the bureaucracy. The continued ill-treatment of the Oromo by Ethiopia, one of the “oldest nations”, points to the reason why democracy has continued to fail in Africa and other developing nations. How can democracy be sustained when governments continue to persecute citizens of their own country? Some African dictators have claimed that democracy is too luxurious for Africa. I don’t believe this statement is true, but I wonder at the foreign policy of western nations that so often prioritizes political interests over democracy and human rights. Western national interests might be part of the new colonialism that remained to shackle Africa.
The Oromo are concentrated in Oromia, a region that is rich in natural resources and provides the majority of the country’s wheat supply. As such, maintaining safety and stability in Oromia is necessary in order to ensure stability throughout the entire Horn of Africa. OLLAA firmly believes that, as long as the Oromo remain oppressed, violence and instability will continue throughout Ethiopia, even if the war in the northern regions comes to an end.
Despite this, the U.S. has continued to ignore the calls of the Oromo for justice instead of turning a blind eye to human rights abuses perpetrated under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s administration. In 2018, only seven months after coming to power following protests led by Oromo youth, the Ethiopian government established military command posts in Oromia. Various groups, including the U.S. State Department, Amnesty International, and OLLAA have reported that security forces associated with these command posts have committed human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings and arbitrary arrests and detentions. However, few in the U.S. have called attention to these abuses. As noted by Abiy on multiple occasions, this silence showed that he could do what he wished to the Oromo, and other ethnic groups, so long as he did not infringe on the rights of those in the northern regions.
The U.S. has also ignored the targeting of Oromo political activists and protesters by Ethiopian security forces, including following the assassination of Hachalu Hundessa in 2020. During this period, leaders of the non-violent, pro-democracy Oromo political opposition, such as Jawar Mohammed and Bekele Gerba, were arrested. If the U.S. had rallied behind these leaders, they could have been a force for democracy and peaceful opposition within Ethiopian society. Instead, they have been left to languish in cells for years. Given the growing instability of Ethiopia, their very lives are at risk, and still, U.S. officials fail to publicly call for their release. If the U.S. wishes to call for peace and stability throughout Ethiopia, shouldn’t they call for the inclusion of these actors, who have served as a voice for peace and democracy, at the table?
In recent months, the U.S. has focused much of its attention on the humanitarian situation in northern Ethiopia. Much of USAID’s budgeted $1.3 billion in aid to Ethiopia has gone to the northern regions, including a recent designation of an additional $149 million for humanitarian assistance specifically in Tigray. While OLLAA understands the unique needs of the Tigray region in these times, we regret that USAID has largely ignored the fact that the humanitarian crisis is not limited to regions that have been directly affected by the war. Hunger and famine conditions are a growing concern in Oromia, both caused by environmental factors, such as the drought, and exacerbated by measures taken by Ethiopian security forces in order to sustain their troops, including the forcible conscription of youth and looting supplies and funds from civilians.
Oddly, even now that the Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF) and Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) have entered into an alliance, the U.S. has continued to ignore the Oromo. Although the Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa recently met with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the TPLF, he did not meet with the OLA or other Oromo-affiliated groups. If the ultimate aim of these negotiations is to set the path towards an inclusive dialogue to determine the future direction of the country, one must wonder how this can be accomplished if the lead-up to such a dialogue continues to ignore the needs of 60% of the population?
It seems shortsighted of the U.S. to fail to recognize that the Oromo represent a significant political force in Ethiopia. Although they have all-too-frequently been treated like a minority, they comprise the majority of Ethiopia’s population, and ultimately, they will decide the future direction of the country. When that time comes, how will the Oromo be able place their trust in the U.S. as an ally if they feel the U.S. has long ignored their needs?
It is important to understand that failure to call out violence against Oromo has not only emboldened Abiy and depressed the Oromo masses, but has also paralyzed the Oromo elites to be self-centered, focusing on the Oromo plight. Ignoring the plights of two-thirds of the entire population has led to almost the dissolution of Ethiopia and the chaos in the region the world now sees. The international community should note that its failure to support and speak up for Oromo, especially the pro-democracy and nonviolent groups, has certainly stripped Oromo and all Ethiopians from the peace and stability the West seeks for Ethiopia.
Today, for the first time, OLLAA publicly calls on the U.S. to change course. It has the power to avert catastrophe in Ethiopia, but in order to do so, it cannot continue to ignore the Oromo, who comprise the majority of the Ethiopian population. Officials must publicly condemn the human rights abuses faced by the Oromo and take steps to ensure their protection, including by calling for accountability for the abuses they have suffered and ensure that humanitarian assistance is provided to all who need it across Ethiopia.”