New Ethiopian PM-Mostly will be OROMO

[maakhiri1]

Factbox: Ethiopia's main ethnic groups

 

Reuters Staff

 

 

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Ethiopia’s Prime Minister quit on Thursday, saying he wanted to smooth the route to further political reforms. The government is dominated by the EPRDF coalition led by ethnic Tigrayans.

Hailemariam Desalegn’s unexpected resignation followed unrest in the Horn of Africa country initially sparked by opposition in the central Oromiya region to an urban development plan that ethnic Oromos said would encroach on their land.

The anger broadened into wider public protests, while bouts of ethnic clashes have also taken place, displacing hundreds of thousands since September.

Following are key facts about the main ethnic groups in Ethiopia, Africa’s second most populous nation and a racially diverse country that took its present form from territorial expansions of the 19th century:

 

* Oromos - Oromos make up 34 percent of Ethiopia’s 100 million people but have not held power in its modern history. Analysts say the violence has triggered a resurgence of ethnic Oromo nationalism.

 

 

Following recent unrest, much of it in the Oromia region, Ethiopia’s new premier is expected to hail from the province.

 

* Amharas - Amharas were the traditional rulers under the era of Ethiopian monarchy that ended with the Soviet-backed overthrow of Emperor Haile Selassie in 1974.

Ethiopia’s second largest ethnic group with at least 20 million people, the Amhara claim they are increasingly politically marginalized. The highest-ranking Amhara in the ruling coalition is Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen.

Amharas hail from the northern and central highlands.

 

* Tigrayans - Tigrayans account for just 6 percent of the population but have dominated politics and the security forces since Tigrayan rebels under Meles Zenawi toppled Marxist military leader Mengistu Haile Mariam in 1991.

Tigrayan officials dismiss claims of unbridled control over the ruling coalition, the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), but acknowledge the necessity to widen the political space.

Tigray is the northernmost of Ethiopia’s nine regions.

 

* SNNPR - The Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region, located in the southwest abutting Kenya and South Sudan, is home to more than 40 ethnic groups, including Hailemariam’s Wollayta.

Defense Minister Siraj Fegesa is also from the SNNP.

 

* Somalis - The dry and arid Somali region, also known as the Ogaden, occupies the eastern third of the country and is home to 6 million people.

It has a history of separatist rebellion against Addis Ababa, fueled in large part by resentment at its low level of development. However, its recent leadership has been seen as closely linked to Hailemariam and Meles Zenawi before him.

 

Reporting by Aaron Maasho; Editing by Ed Cropley and John Stonestreet

Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

[maakhiri1]

Somalis must get ready deal with OROMO PM, they do bread like  cockroaches, but are NOT very smart people. 

[Old_Observer]

Let me tell you what I read in one website mereja and old name ethiopian review - is one of the oldest sites which is 100% anti Tigray to the extent it produced pictures from other countries dead and used as ethiopian.

 

The topic was : TPLF has decided Lema to be PM

They went through his background and also that he has worked along with the foreign minister in police and intelligence, so generally what the content is that TPLF will not bring somebody they do not know.

 

The objective and the way participans highlighted was the funniest

They said Somali will be unhappy and if Somali starts trouble TPLF will not take measures so Ethiopia will be gone.

These people have never been concerned for Somali, yet now since they dod not want the Oromo to be in and do not want to say Amhara would rather choose the way it is rather than Oromo take over, they used the Somali.

It was funny and so crude and obvious.

 

If it was anybody else south or Hareri or Afar or Tigray ..that said it, you can at least say maybe they understand, but these folks just make you think how they are desperate between the one they hate and the other they fear and hate.

 

 

[galbeedi]

maakhiri,

 

Get off from your high horse. Aren't we Somalis breed the same away. Six or seven kids an average. We should look ourselves in the mirror.We might live in the west but that is Africa. 

 

It was just yesterday that Menelik and highlanders landed our land. Things could be ugly but that is how things change for the natives. THe colonials are out and the native Oromo is in. It will take time for them to learn the ropes.

 

Have  we gain anything for the last 27 years of Wayaane rule  or we lost everything although we cannot blame everything to others. 

 

Folks, we need this shake up. We welcome Mr. Lemma Magrasa, he could not be worse than Meles.

 

 

 

.

 

[Holac]

Galbeedi, the Oromos of today have an element of extreme expansionist mindset. It is going to be very hard to contain them once they start to dominate the hallways of power. As you know, before the Tigray rule, the Somali Killil was divided between Hararghe and Bale regions which are 100% Oromo, and Sidamo which has other ethnics. The Oromos are not happy with the current borders of the Somali region. They want to redraw the borders. It is their number one grievance with the Somalis today. 

 

Saxiib gaalka dil gartiisana sii. The Tigray rule was most definitely better for the Somali region than that of Mengistu aka the butcher of Borama.  Let us also not overlook that the Oromos were the footsoldiers of every Habashi King who attempted to subjugate the fiercely independent Somali tribes in the Horn. 

 

I am not that hopeful about Oromo rule. Doqontu ninkay legdooto maka kacdo. Once they go on top of you, they may never get off. 

[maakhiri1]

Galbeedi, waryaahe nimanka heshiiska gaara oo Somali dhex maray ma ogeeyne sidee wax yihiin? Iyagoo la inagu soo direy oo dad badan qashaan ogaa!

 

Bal waa egnaa  , Badankoodana luuqad , dhul, iyo diin baa inaga dhexeeysa? waa mindi laba af leh!

[Old_Observer]

 

The Chances for an Oromo PM are not looking good. At least not short term unless the Americans insist.

The Amhara who have most influence in DC are against both the Oromo and Ginbot 7 which are both favoured by America. State department which is the only one against EPRDF from long time.

Amhara for most part is either themselves or weak very weak but not dead Tigray lol

As long as there is no problem in the Capital city itself, Tigray has enough confidence in the rest. The Oromo do not want the capital city to take limelight, they have least influence.

 

The "game" continues until a player is carried out on stretcher or red carded from the teams.

 

Food self sufficiency should be primary objective for Somali and Afar peoples. You cannot accomplish any other thing when every 2-3 years you facing draught dead goats and camels. This problem is becoming too dangerous for survival let alone development. Its achievable with little help from NGOs and governments. Requires some cultural shift which is not against the culture, heritage, Din of the people.

 

 

 

 

 

[maakhiri1]

if they taking that long to decide/agree, the problem is bigger than we thought!

[Old_Observer]

1 hour ago, maakhiri1 said:

if they taking that long to decide/agree, the problem is bigger than we thought!

 

There is an incident in Ethiopia that happened 1916 very sad for the people but politically very funny

 

Iyasu was supposed to be the emperor after menilik (he is menelik's grandson by mother)

He let his intensions of liberating from Zeila to Massawa Eritrea known met with respective clans among Somali, Afar said they are ready and then went north and was raising big army. Contacted Germany and Turkey. Started this work 1913 when Europeans were in mess and only war can solve their economic crisis.

 

The Italian, British, French ambassadors met Shiwa Amhara nobles for a week every evening and came up with a fake news for the north.

Iyasu has converted to Islam, all his time is spent with Somalis, Afar, Wollo (his home kingdom) and Tigray East.

The orthodox pope excommunicated him and was end of Iyasu. The pope was supposed to ask Iyasu in person, confess him and other confirmation. Did not bother. Once excomunicated for north that is end of you. When they found out fake news from him was too late the Shiwa Amhara have moved on.

 

He escaped from prison went to Afar ex-sultan and being afraid took him to Tigray to add more animosity to Haileslassie. Spent a year there and when no support or arms can be found handed to Haileslassie.

 

I am sure there are meetings with Chinese, mainly American, British also important French and Italians.

 

Considering the situation whole area its 1900 all over again. But I don't think radical surgery will happen just small shuffling.

 

[Holac]

Oromos may have overplayed their hand.

 

[Old_Observer]

6 hours ago, Holac said:

Oromos may have overplayed their hand.

 

Big time.

They scared the Amhara since the Amhara supported them, but Amhara with maybe 5 conflicting organizations was not ready to challenge, and if the Oromo by some accident take it, Amhara can kiss goodbye to everything including language for next century.

They scared the Somali and Afar people supposed to be closest to them, by stating that since 40 million they should take proportional places in government, but they forgot that 2 million Afar has probably done more than the Oromo ever did for Ethiopia. And by Oromo calculation there will not be a single Afar in government.

They used brutal methods trying to intimidate everybody including killing people for no reason other than being non Oromo.

 

What they do not take into consideration is the Somali for example has had war in his lands for 100 years non stop, against this or that foreigner and sometimes each other. Survived poor very poor of course in material wealth, but still speaks his language, has the Din he had when all these century of troubles started..etc that builds character and strength resilience, staying power.

 

 

 

 

[Old_Observer]

maakhiri1,

 

I just read an article, looks like written by Amhara person about Oromo PM:

 

Lema Megerssa is not qualified since:

1. He did not make any statement telling his QERO not to kill people of other Ethnics in Oromo region minimum and taking action would have been quality of leader

2. The call coming from Jawar and OLF makes it clear why Lema did not do anything but sweet talk empty Ethiopianism

3. He did not pass grade 12 with credits enough for university even on second try, but started work in government and somebody in government wrote a letter for him to attend Civil service college

4. Has no experience in dealing with diplomacy and the weight of Ethiopia added

5. Has no experience in dealing with neighbouring countries

6. Why cannot be another Oromo qualified even if insisting Oromo is wrong

7. Why cannot be from other nationalities 35 million people is no qualification or reason.

 

An eye opening article.

 

 

[Holac]

Appointing Lema the PM  is tantamount to giving him a reward for killing innocent Somalis in Awaday. I am sure there are other decent Oromo candidates out there that the ruling elite can choose from. Lema is a stooge of the expansionist elements within the OLF. He is by no means a unifying character. 

[maakhiri1]

agree , Oromo Pm  is losing steam, could be someone else!

[Old_Observer]

2 minutes ago, Holac said:

Appointing Lema the PM  is tantamount to giving him a reward for killing innocent Somalis in Awaday. I am sure there are other decent Oromo candidates out there that the ruling elite can choose from. Lema is a stooge of the expansionist elements within the OLF. He is by no means a unifying character. 

 

Thank you. I missed that one, but is in the article.

 

If chaos and murder of other Ethnics is way to gain power, why would others not try it too. Every other nationalitiy's Farx can have a go at it as short cut to power.