Ethiopian State Sponsored Assassinations: The Oromo Experience

A History of Violence.
The Horn of Africa bears the scars of a tumultuous past, marked by conflict, power struggles, and systematic oppression. Among the region's many tragedies, the plight of the Oromo people stands as a stark reminder of the human cost of political violence. For over a century, the Oromo have endured persecution, marginalization, and targeted assassinations at the hands of successive Ethiopian regimes. This presentation delves into the dark history of state-sponsored violence against the Oromo, examining the motives behind these assassinations and their broader implications for human rights and regional stability. The systematic targeting of Oromo leaders is not a recent phenomenon. It started with the creation of Ethiopia as a dependent colonial empire at the end of the 19th century by European colonial powers. Since then, state sponsored political assassinations are deeply rooted in Ethiopia's history of imperial expansion and the subsequent struggle for control over land, resources, and political power. By silencing dissenting voices and eliminating potential threats to their authority, Ethiopian rulers have sought to maintain their grip on power and suppress any form of opposition, particularly from the Oromo people.