Starving for Justice: Life or Death for Oromo Political Prisoners

Imagine being completely exhausted, so much so you can’t form a coherent sentence. Then, on top of that, your heart is racing — like you’ve just run a marathon. Finally, your muscles have deteriorated so much that you cannot hold yourself up. Now — imagine willingly subjecting yourself to all of that. This is just a glimpse into what Jawar Mohammad, Bekele Gerba, Hamza Borana, Dejane Xafa, and others are currently experiencing.

These Oromo political leaders are in the 21st day of their hunger strike, and their lawyers have said that most cannot form sentences or stand on their own two feet. Their kidneys are failing and if they come down with a cold or sore throat, it could mean death. Jawar Mohammed has been described as a “political tsunami”, known for his Oromo nationalist views and pursuit of self-determination for Oromos and other ethnic groups. Unlike the fear-mongering common in the Proud Boys white nationalism, “I am Oromo first” nationalism seeks to liberate the Oromo people from endless oppression. “Oromo first” seeks to permit the Oromo people to direct their own paths and reunify after the diasporic splintering caused by assimilationist nationalism. Oromo nationalism isn’t anti-everyone else, but rather, celebrates diversity and self-direction.

Historically, Ethiopian authoritarian governments have enforced policies that disproportionately persecuted the Oromo, despite the fact that Oromo people make up the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia with over 35% of the population. When the current Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, became the first selected Oromo to spearhead the transition, Jawar Mohammed was a key ally. However, he quickly began to disagree with the Prime Minister when he began to impose old assimilationist policies of the past. 

Jawar Mohammed and a dozen other Oromo politicians were arrested on terrorism charges for “inciting ethnic clashes” and “seeking to topple the government by violence.” Yet, Jawar Mohammed was peacefully advocating for the Oromo people’s right to self-determination by protesting the assassination of Hachalu Hundessa, an Oromo advocate and musician.

Open governance, freedom of speech, and the right to protest is not only an American ideal, but a human right.  In this hour where Americans are advocating and protesting for equity and diversity at home, they also have the opportunity to fight for these ideals abroad. More and more Americans are making their voices heard every day, these voices must also be used to pressure Prime Minister Ahmed and the Ethiopian government to uphold their commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission has publicly declared that Jawar Mohammed’s demands are “reasonably justified” and that they “must be addressed.” 

For over five months, Jawar Mohammed and his allies have been demanding:

  • The release of all political prisoners.
  • That all political party offices be reopened and able to operate without interference. 
  • An end to the mistreatment of family members of political prisoners when they visit their loved ones.

However, their pleas have fallen on deaf ears, prompting these political prisoners to begin a hunger strike more than three weeks ago. To date, neither Prime Minister Ahmed, nor his administration, have addressed these demands. 

Knowing all this, how will the world respond? How will you respond? Will you hear their cry for justice? Will you loudly oppose this clear undermining of universal values of human rights? Will you hold the Ethiopian government accountable? 

For more details on the current human rights crisis in Ethiopia and how to get involved, please visit https://ollaa.org/hungerstrike.