Ethiopia erupts in deadly ethnic violence Oromia State

[Hawdian]

At least nine students have died during days of protests in Ethiopia's Oromia state, the government has said.

However, a witness told the BBC that 47 were killed by the security forces.

 

She said the protests in Ambo, 125km (80 miles) west of Addis Ababa began last Friday over plans to expand the capital into Oromia state.

 

The government did not say how most of the deaths had been caused but the Ambo resident said she had seen the army firing live ammunition.

 

Continue reading the main story

Analysis

 

James Hassam

Addis Ababa

The student protestors are from Ethiopia's biggest ethnic group, the Oromo, numbering around 27 million people.

 

Oromia is the country's largest region, completely surrounding the capital Addis Ababa, although the city is itself part of the Amhara region.

 

Its people speak their own language - Oromifa - and see themselves as very different from the Amhara.

 

The protesters believe they face losing their regional and cultural identity if plans to extend Addis Ababa's administrative control into parts of Oromia get the go-ahead.

 

Some have also raised fears of the potential for land grabs.

 

The so called "master-plan" for Addis Ababa is currently out for public consultation and the government says people are being given opportunities to raise their concerns.

 

Officials say the plan has been well publicised and will bring city services to poor rural areas.

 

The protestors claim they merely wanted to raise questions about the plan - but were answered with violence and intimidation.

 

"I saw more than 20 bodies on the streets," she said.

 

"I am hiding in my house because I am scared."

 

The Ambo resident said that four students had been killed on Monday and another 43 in a huge security crackdown on Tuesday, after a huge demonstration including many non-students.

 

Since then, the town's streets have been deserted, she said, with banks and shops closed and no transport.

 

She said teaching had been suspended at Ambo University, where the protests began, and students prevented from leaving.

 

In a statement, the government said eight people had died during violent protests led by "anti-peace forces" in the towns of Ambo and Tokeekutayu, as well as Meda Welabu University, also in Oromia state.

 

It said one person had been killed "in a related development" when a hand grenade was thrown at students watching a football match.

 

The statement blamed the protests on "baseless rumours" being spread about the "integrated development master plan" for the capital.

 

BBC Ethiopia analyst Hewete Haileselassie says some ethnic Oromos feel the government is dominated by members of the Tigre and Amhara communities and they would be loath to see the size of "their" territory diminish with the expansion of Addis Ababa, which is claimed by both Oromos and Amharas.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-27251331'>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-27251331

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-27251331

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndJ1NE0qV_M#t=67

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

The TPLF will crush them they deployed allready thousands of troops to the area its calm now the past 24 hours

 

 

[galbeedi]

This could be the beginning of the disintegration of the empire. How far will the Tigre dictatorship will last. All empires of twentieth century had disappeared except Abyssinia. Oromo are 40 million or more than 50% of the population, if they rise up Ethiopia will become five or six states. Somali, Danakil, Oromia, Tigray, Amhara, and southern nationalities. The only way they can keep existing is if they become democratic and plural state.

 

Let us pray for the change and hope Oromia get their own state free of Amhara and Tigray.

 

 

[Hawdian]

The Brainchild of TPLF melez Zenawi is dead And the Oromo has woken up To demand their rights no more pushover Ethiopia will must likely see a fight for power as the different nationalities Kilils all demand rights over their homelands and once blood has been split its point of no return. We shall see very soon

[SomaliPhilosopher]

Was the protested coordinated with John Kerry's visit to Ethiopia today? Perhaps a calculated move. If we Somalis still have irredentist ambitions we should use the OLF as a means of somali galbeed liberation. empower and hide behind the oromos. have them fight the battle.

[Tillamook]

Whatever differences and grievances Somalis may have with Ethiopia, it is very naive and foolish for Somalis to wish ill for this neighbor of ours.

 

If civil strife brakes out in that country, the effects will have grave consequences for all Somalis in the Horn of Africa.

 

Let's all pray that Ethiopia gradually, and more importantly peacefully, turns it's current undemocratic regime to a more inclusive government.

[SomaliPhilosopher]

Not that I am wishing ill upon Ethiopia, but you may made a claim so I must ask you to back it. What "grave consequences" will a civil war in Ethiopia have for "all Somalis in the Horn"??

[Mooge]

Oromo need to stand up for their rights and speak up. The Amhara thinks Addis is their city but they keep encrouching into Oromo land with development everyday.

 

i support oromo resistance.

[galbeedi]

Tillamook, what grave consequences left for the Somalis of horn?. Millions starved to death, thousands died in the high seas, others are refugees in the neighboring countries and Al-shabaab is murdering people daily. What is left for you to worry about Ethiopian strive. In Zone five there is economic stagnation. There is no more train from Djibouti to Dire Dawa, no business in that part. The trade between Berbera-Jigjiga is almost dead, there are checkpoints to confiscate any goods even for local use. You may have seen few buildings in Jigjiga but Zone five is a big jail. Please spare us your crocodile tears. The only thing is some Somalis may lose their protector.

 

well, the chicken may have come home to roost. There are no gradual changes in this kind of systems. They rule by the barrel of the gun. The only way they will accept change is by violent overthrow. I know some of you may be shedding some tears for you protectors, but Ethiopia, like the middle east, cannot transform peacefully. Besides, I never seen you in this pages praying for your own country.

 

No change has taken place in this country for forty years. The communist dictatorship is replaced by the TPLF from 1991 til Meles passed away 2012. The so called federal system is a bogus decentralization, no election has ever taken place in this country. They May call themselves, Oromia, zone Five of Somalia, or other ethnic names , but the military and the army that patrols the country are ething Tigray with few Amharas. They appoint the leaders of these regions and the military leaders oversee the them.

 

Sooner or later Ethiopia will disintegrate, just like former Yugoslavia. the four million Tigray citizens cannot control eighty million people who want to be free. In this age of information, if Oromia and others decide to be free of Tigray oppression anything is possible.

[Mahiigaan]

 

In this age, no dictatorial regimes are immune to radical bloody changes. In such systems where the minority subjugates the majority in the modern age, sustainabily of such oppressives regimes is unlikely. The Abbysinian kingdom had seen its hey days for millenia, it is time for its disintegration once and for all. No body will shed any tears for this brutal Tigray gangs in the Horn of Africa.

[Che -Guevara]

Galbeedi. Though we are at lowest point as nation, a violent disintegration of Ethiopia can be prove to be fatal event for Somalis for the simple reason we are not in position to have some control over the outcome.

 

The Oromos are weak and divided. A violent uprising can go one of three ways, dislodging Woyanes, a defeat of for the Oromo in which case hundreds of thousands if not millions will come refugees in the sparsely populated Somali lands, or the return of Amraha.

 

And the West will try everything in their power to keep Ethiopia together and may even force Woyanes to loosen the grip in order to ensure Ethiopia's survival.

 

In any case, Zenawi either by design or lack of foresight has laid the foundations for Ethiopia's eventual implosion, ethnic federalism which has awakened the sense of being of Oromo, Afar, etc, and the continuing oppression are not good mix.

 

Woyanes are in good position to deal with any outcome, the same cannot be said about other nations.

[galbeedi]

Che, among the points you raised the return of Amhara is probably the scariest option. I check their websites and you won't believe their rhetoric. Some even suggest that for Ethiopia to be great , they must get a sea port, and they are not talking about Eritrea but Djibouti. one of their intellectual professors suggested that a ten year occupation of Djibouti and the relocation of 1 million Ethiopians can change the demography easily. They also blame Meles for for the ethnic separation of the communities.

 

Most of the Oromo who share borders with Somalis have cultural links with us. There are literally millions of Oromos who are ethnic Somalis who took Oromo language and culture. They are called " warooyin". each one's tribe is preceded by waro. Since our population is smaller, I do not mind people who share faith and culture, who can assimilate easily to boost our ranks.. In Fact thousands of them live in Hargeisa, Borama , Boosaaso and other places.

 

For the Woyane to rule for ever, they must all become soldiers.

 

If we were in charge of Somalia, we would have decided who should be ruling Ethiopia, not the other way around . If they do not play ball, " sideed Jabhadood oo kala duwan baan ku sii dayn lahayn. There is no way this country can exist in this form.

 

They have three choices to make.

 

1- Disintegration and dissolution just like former Yugoslavia. Every ethnic group will have their own state.

2- Plural democracy. A multi ethnic, multicultural country where people vote for those who rule. That means the minority Tigray, or Amhara will not be the favorite candidates. That scenario will dethrone them peacefully and Ethiopia could become a modern free country.

3- The status quo. Keep things the way they are and wait for the implosion and violent disintegration of the country. by 2017, If things get bad, we may even send some peace keepers to keep the order.

 

Like most oppressive rulers , I know they will choose the last option.

[Homunculus]

<cite>

@SomaliPhilosopher

said:</cite>

Was the protested coordinated with John Kerry's visit to Ethiopia today? Perhaps a calculated move. If we Somalis still have irredentist ambitions we should use the OLF as a means of somali galbeed liberation. empower and hide behind the oromos. have them fight the battle.

 

Remind me not to have you as an enemy, what a devious idea.

[Abu-Salman]

Was the protested coordinated with John Kerry’s visit to Ethiopia today? Perhaps a calculated move. If we Somalis still have irredentist ambitions we should use the OLF as a means of somali galbeed liberation. empower and hide behind the oromos. have them fight the battle

 

That was actually the strategy of the Somali State in its heyday, as both the OLF and TPLF were hosted alongside the Eritreans. Sadly, Oromo nationalism is used by the ruling TPLF today both gainst the Amhara "excessive demands" and Somalis (Dire Dawa, Harar and other areas ceded to Oromia).

However, a collaboration with or even concessions to Oromos is still key in furthering the implosion of the Abyssinians colonial project spearheaded by Menelik, whereby a huge portion of Oromos perished and many Somalis were sold as slaves too, victime of the most savage atrocities (that shocked even British colonial observers and other Westerners).

 

 

Here is an excellent written account by a well-placed British expert and advocate that also relate the maladroit attempt at decolonization by Somalis hampered by public relations or diplomatic deficiencies as the Ethio basically sold the idea that it was an invasion rather than the decolonization of the Somali British protectorate portion illegally ceded to Menelik:

 

The Betrayal of the Somalis, by Louis FitzGibbon

 

"It should be thaught as History course in the high schools of Somalia"

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Galbeedi Ethiopia monarchistic institutions are so strong disintegration of Ethiopia needs allot more than some protests, there was a similar crack down in Wollow few years ago. Oromo ethnic is not one collective Ethnic the Highland Oromos consider themselves Bonafide Ethiopians and that Ethiopia is theirs. Oromos is not one collective Ethnic group with one vision or with one tradition Division Christians and Muslim. Meles Might be dead but the co founders of the TPLF are still alive the chief of staff Mr Semore Yunis and Meles wife azeb and Sebhat and many others i doubt. Galbeedi the Tigre ethnic still controls them it has been 24 years i dont see any one confronting them. The Somali state no longer exists as we know it geopolitcally they have it very well. They keep Eritrea isolated, i dont see how Ethiopia can fall apart it can happen but i dont see it happening any time soon.... If you want to destroy Ethiopia the best way is to use religion if Somalis were smart they would set up a Muslim led party led by various ethiopian ethnics under one banner, i think that would be the best strategy. To get rid of Ethiopias christian identity.