Isaias and the Imperial Illusion: Why Oromummaa Threatens the Status Quo

This video challenges Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki’s claim that Oromummaa is a foreign ideology threatening Ethiopia. It argues that Oromummaa is the authentic national identity of the Oromo people, rooted in their language, culture, and democratic Gadaa system. The piece critiques Ethiopia’s formation as a colonial empire built through the violent annexation of southern nations like Oromia, whose people remain marginalized. It highlights Eritrea’s complicity in upholding Ethiopia’s exclusionary imperial order, both during and after its own liberation struggle. The article concludes by asserting that lasting peace in the Horn of Africa requires decolonization, justice, and respect for the right to self-determination, including for the Oromo.