On the surface it's comparing apples and oranges. But overall there is one thing in common between the two groups.
Oromos;
What should be understood is that there is no common Oromo experience. What an Oromo thinks about the problems and solutions in Ethiopia depends on which Oromo you're talking to. A Tuulama Oromo from Shawa is historically the foundation of the Ethiopian state. They are the traditional vangaurd and feudal landlords of the Ethiopian elite. Even today Tuulama Oromos like Burtukaan Midhaksaa are leading the revolt in Addis Ababa, to restore Ethiopia to "its past glories". Its not a matter of them being slaves, it is just who they are culturally, religiously, historically.
Wallagga Oromos entered into the Ethiopian union willingly when they submitted to Ras Goobana, leader of the Shawa Oromo. In the century which followed they gained many benefits, most notably access to schools & education. Also militarily, Wallagga Oromos are known for making up most of the pilots in the Ethiopian airforce. Atleast this was the case prior to 1991 (today the airforce is relatively weak and understaffed). So it was these guys who bombed the crap out of Eritrea and Tigray in the 80's.
Anyways with this history, these people cannot and do not have hate for the habasha. They may see them as natural opponents or polticial rivals, but thats it. Their concern has been primarily to have a fairer share in gov't. Waging war and desroying the state is not something they see as in their interest. Things they have in common with the habasha is that they are christian, they dislike Islam and see it as a threat. They see Arabs, Somalis and Muslims in the same way the habasha do.
On the other hand, there are the Muslims Oromos in Harargee (AQ, Ituu, Anniya), Wallo, Arsi (inhabiting Baale & Diida'aa) who entered Ethiopia via rivers of blood. Who since then have continued to fight at any opportunity. Who see the habasha as historical enemies and foreign occupiers etc. The problem is in the name of Oromo nationalism, they abandoned their religion, ignored any of the historical differences, took non-muslims as leaders and ideological fathers and diluted their cause; leaving it in a state of confusion and internal disarray.
Somalis;
Have the typical experience with european colonial powers. While the Europeans occupied Somalia they also trained and raised a generation of Somalis (in their schools & military academies) who walk like them, talk like them, dress like them, and think like them. So although the europeans left, they left behind this group of elite to rule in their image. So like new students in a chemistry lab, these elite experimented with different ways to apply european ideas and laws in Somalia. From democracy, to socialism, marxist-lenninism, nationalism etc. The further they strayed from what made brotherhood between the clans, Islam, the more they severed the brotherhood between the clans.
It's easy to see the only groups which operate free of clan hatred and suspicion in Somalia are the Islamic groups.
Fine analysis, on oromo case
Aliyyi, we cant undo the past, we can only undo the injustice created by the defeat.
Maccaa and Tulama joining Oromo struggle (or to be more precise rejecting Abyssianism) is itself a positive point, as it weakens
the Abyssinians. if not, Amhara joined by Maccaa-Tulama , helped by the west will crush everything in the horn.
As for Somalis, the European factor in their current situation is exaggerated; one should probably look in their
tribal laws: it was solely based on balance of power and blood relation. Probably the kind of survival economy they had induced such laws;
Political Islam as solution for Somalis or Muslim Oromos is laughable!
Somalis will most probably use it to score against their neighbours...
As for us, Muslim Oromos, political Islam asks us to leave our identity for the
one of Arabs :its the last thing left that gives us a semblance of dignity.
Personnaly, my heart vibrates much more to the History of foundation of Oda Bultum than the history of a crazy
Arab Sheekh selling Afran Qalloo kids, or subjugating the great Hindu people of India.
B.
