Oromo Democratic Front’s Tortuous Path to Birth

April 01, 2013 | By Moosisaa Hoosaa*

After years of gestation and almost killing its mother – the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), the Oromo Democratic Front (ODF) was born on March 28, 2013. Fifteen years would pass from when its idea was publicly proposed by its chief architect – Obbo Leenco Lata[1] – at an Oromo Studies Association (OSA) conference in the summer of 1999 in Atlanta, Georgia, to its miracle of birth this week.

The long pregnancy was most difficult for the OLF, which had to carry ODF for more than 15 years. No less tortuous was the birth for ODF given the path it followed. Thank Waqaa, mother and child seem to have come through!

You see, ODF did not believe in being born or having its own name. ODF’s interest was only in existing and thriving. If it could live in its mother’s womb without being born and could masquerade (to pretend to be someone you are not) as its mother – the OLF, ODF was more than fine with that. In fact, that was ODF’s preference until the incredibly patient mother (the OLF) insisted that it be born, and assume its own existence and name, or it will not see the light of day. Existing without being born and masquerading as its mother (for the purpose of fooling the Oromo) was so important to ODF that it took about fifteen (15) years for it to give up and realize there was just no way for it – short of the miracle of birth. In the end, it decided to leave its mother’s womb and announced its own birth on March 28, 2013.

This is a big cause for celebration as the mother’s life is spared, and the child is alive. And, yes, Happy Birthday Oromo Democratic Front!

ODF’s odyssey, and that of the OLF I might add, began when the now president of ODF – Obbo Leenco Lata – and his friends signed a confidential agreement in 1998 on behalf of the OLF and with a mediator (the World Lutheran Federation). This was less than one year before the 1999 OSA annual conference, on which Obbo Leenco presented the idea. In that confidential agreement, ODF leaders agreed to renounce armed struggle and accept Tigray People’s Liberation Front’s (TPLF) Ethiopian constitution. The demand from ODF leaders to TPLF was a jump start of negotiations that would allow them to return to Finfinnee (Addis Abeba) and become a loyal opposition. Their attempt failed when what was better known at the time as “the Galaasaa Group[2]” opposed their move and convened emergency OLF congress in 1998 – which nullified their agreement with the World Lutheran Federation. ODF’s attempt #1 at masquerading as the OLF and returning to Finfinnee failed miserably, but succeeded in sawing the seed of suspicion and division within the organization.

Disappointed by turn of events, but not discouraged, the current ODF leaders[3] went back to the drawing board. Now that OLF had elected a new set of leaders, and given that ODF leaders refused to attend the 1998 congress, and therefore, not elected to leadership positions from where they could help ODF to achieve its objective, a new scheme had to be hatched. The one option open to them was to work through their proxies (their agents) within the OLF.

But the work of ODF proxies within the OLF was frustrated, again, by the “Galaasaa Group.” If ODF were to succeed in its endeavor, it was imperative to install one of its men in the office of the chairman which was occupied by Obbo Galaasaa Dilboo at the time. Having been re-elected a mere six months before, Obbo Galaasaa had over three years left in his term of office. The two obvious options for the ODF leaders were to patiently wait for the next three years and have one of their men elected chairman or plan a coup d’état to be conducted by their proxies in the OLF against the current chairman. They opted for the latter option due, in part, to OLF’s lack of history of periodic elections – there simply was no way for them to predict when the next elections would take place. They succeeded in this in November 1999, when, out of frustration caused by ODF men in the OLF, Chairman Galaasaa Dilboo resigned and Obbo Dawud Ibsaa was installed in the office of the OLF chairman. But coup d’état was only the means, not the end, which set the stage for ODF’s attempt #2 at masquerading as the OLF in its effort to return to Finfinnee.

No sooner than installed, Obbo Dawud Ibsaa began implementing ODF’s program. The first of these was the Year 2000 “Agenda for Peace,” an agenda conceived and written up by current ODF leaders. Dawud Ibsa’s “Agenda for Peace” offered to accept the Ethiopian constitution and renounce armed struggle. In return, ODF (masquerading as the OLF) would be allowed to return to Finfinnee as a loyal opposition of the TPLF. This offer was presented to the Oromo public as a diplomatic stunt, but to the international community as a serious offer. Unfortunately for ODF, the persistent thorn in ODF’s side, the “Galaasaa group,” rejected the “agenda” and opposed it vehemently. This was a huge problem causing the Dawud Ibsaa group to lose sleep.

Just in case TPLF took Dawud Ibsaa’s offer seriously, and they were to return to Finfinnee to democratize Ethiopia, there would be a group of current and former leaders left in the Diaspora who would claim the OLF name. TPLF would not be happy with such a situation. Something had to be done quickly to show goodwill and assuage TPLF’s concerns in this respect. To that end, in August 2001, the Dawud Ibsaa group dismissed Abiyu Geleta and Galaasaa Dilboo from the OLF and sentenced Dhugaasaa Bakakkoo, the then head of OLA, to death. In fact, dismissal and sentencing notices were faxed to the Walta Information Center (a TPLF mouthpiece) by Sagalee Bilisummaa Oromoo (SBO) before Obbo Abiyu, Obbo Galaasaa and Obbo Dhugaasaa were notified. The “Galaasaa group” went on to form “Koree Dandamachiifttuu”[4] and later the OLF-Transitional-Authority led by Obbo Dhugaasaa Bakakkoo, better known as Qaama Cehumsaa (QC-ABO) among the Oromo.

Regardless of ODF’s efforts (through its proxies) to attract TPLF’s interest, ODF’s attempt #2 at masquerading as the OLF and returning to Finfinnee to democratize Ethiopia met a dismal failure. As a direct result of ODF machination, the OLF split into “Shanee-OLF” (led by Dawud Ibsaa) and “QC-OLF” (led by Dhugaasaa Bakakkoo) in 2001.

ODF was discouraged, but was not going to give up easily. Having partially succeeded in tweaking the objective of the OLF at the 2004 Shanee-OLF congress, ODF was very much encouraged. The change they sought to make to the objective of the OLF did not go as far as they would have liked, but it was a start – a partial victory. ODF is now ready for its attempt #3 to return to Finfinnee masquerading as the OLF through the Alliance for Freedom and Democracy (AFD), a collection of Ethiopian opposition groups, formed in 2006. AFD’s declared aim was to lay “the foundation for a fully democratic system in Ethiopia … by instituting a genuinely representative political order,” signed in May 2006. Sounds similar to current ODF aim and objectives? It is not a coincidence – ODF helped design the document and signed it with OLF’s fingers.

Oh, by the way (BTW), in case their scheme of returning to Finfinnee to democratize Ethiopia came to fruition, it was imperative to make sure no one in the Diaspora claimed to be the OLF. In anticipation of AFD’s success, ODF (through its proxies in Shanee-OLF) decided to take the QC group to a Minneapolis-Minnesota court. Obbo Kassim Abbaa Nashaa (formerly of Shanee-OLF & currently with Kemal Gelchu Group) opened a lawsuit in July of 2007 on behalf of the ODF – of course, masquerading as the Shanee-OLF. ODF charged QC with “Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act” and that it interfered with the Asmara Group’s [Shanee-OLF, the ODF proxy at the time] “prospective economic advantage” by using the OLF emblem and flag. After two years of litigation and after an estimated $50,000 money were wasted on both sides on American lawyers, the QC group defeated Shanee-OLF – the proxy for ODF.

ODF’s attempt #3 at masquerading as the OLF fared no better this time either. AFD amounted to nothing. This latest attempt ended in a disappointing defeat, and no opportunity for ODF to go back to Finfinnee and democratize Ethiopia. They lost the court case against QC-OLF. ODF leaders were beside themselves, and furious that their proxies could not do anything right – “not even defeating QC-OLF in court” – as one of them was said to have put it.

After weighing its options, ODF made a decision to look for someone else in Shanee-OLF – who would be more capable than Obbo Dawud Ibsaa to be its proxy and beneficiary of its upcoming coup d’état against Obbo Dawud. They quickly identified a new kid on the block – whom they thought was a perfect match for the role. This individual had been an Ethiopian at heart – devoid of Oromo nationalism – all his life, he served the TPLF government loyally as a military officer for many years, and had led hunting and killing expeditions against members of the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) while working for the TPLF. He had, a couple of years before, crossed an Ethio-Eritrea border point into Eritrea purportedly to “to raise arms against the [TPLF] regime, and thus join the popular [Oromo] struggle” and was made the head of the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) upon arrival. For ODF leaders, who were bent on returning to Finfinnee to democratize Ethiopia, it was no concern that Kemal Gelchu was leading campaigns against OLA. They did not care if a horse or a hyena carried them to Finfinnee.

Through Kemal Gelchu’s co-regionalists, Lencho Bati (former spokesperson of Shanee-OLF, then of Jijjiirama-OLF, and currently ODF officer) and Hassan Hussein (former Shanee-OLF head of foreign affairs, former AFD spokesperson, then of Jijjiirama-OLF, and currently ODF officer) – who were already its proxies in the OLF for a long time, ODF encouraged and helped plan Kemal Gelchu’s coup d’état attempt against Dawud Ibsaa. Again, this was a means, not an end, just like when ODF’s coup d’état against Obbo Galaasaa Dilboo in 1999. This time around, however, it was not going to be as easy.

The Eritrean government was closely watching and monitoring the situation. For one thing, Eritreans never trusted anyone outside of their control. The ODF leaders, dwelling in Europe and North America at the time, were beyond Eritrea’s reaches and control. Besides, Eritreans received periodic intelligence reports about meetings between Ethiopian government officials and ODF leaders, the likes of Hassan Hussein (masquerading as OLF leaders) in Europe. Their phone line tapping intelligence gathering method also revealed that a conspiracy was being hatched to depose Dawud Ibsaa and replace him with Kemal Gelchu. However, this was not discussed with them. Suspicious of what was going on, they tipped off Dawud and helped him foil the ODF/Kemal Gelchu conspiracy. Alas, Kemal Gelchu’s ambition to the throne of OLF was thwarted, and with it – ODF’s plan of installing their new man as Shanee-OLF chairman went down the drain – a disappointing outcome for ODF leaders. This led to the split of the Shanee-OLF group into Shanee-OLF (led by Obbo Dawud) and Jijjiirama-OLF (led by Kemal Gelchu) groups. ODF never intended to split Shanee; its interest lied in a united Shanee-OLF – which it could control through its proxies. Unfortunately for ODF, the law of unintended consequences kicked in.

We are now in the summer of the year 2008.

With a promise of “change is on the way,” and with encouragement, support and counsel from the ODF leaders, the “Kemal Gelchu group,” better known as the “Jijjiirama-OLF” in Oromo circles, claimed the name OLF. Kemal Gelchu staked a claim to the throne a mere two years after joining the OLF and became the chairman of Jijjiirama-OLF. However, even with support and counsel from ODF leaders, Kemal’s group failed to attract members from diverse regions of Oromia. Supporters and officers of the Jijjiirama-OLF turned out to be almost a 100% from a single region in Oromia – Arsi. ODF leaders became uncomfortable with this fact realizing that the new “Jijjiirama-OLF” organization looked nothing like the OLF when it came to Oromo regional diversity. It did not look like a horse they would want to mount for their ride to Finfinnee. Only a fool would mistake Jijjiirama-OLF for the OLF, they agreed. This newest proxy had to be abandoned and a new scheme devised.

The new ODF scheme was to appear to be neutral in the conflict among the various OLF factions and present itself to the Oromo public as an objective moderator. Two parallel and reinforcing plans of attack were put together: One through the Oromo Artists Association (OAA) and another through a reconciliation committee conveniently named “Miseensota Gameeyyii fi Buleeyyii ABO.” Together, these two bodies, purportedly, would pressure all OLF factions to come together and moderate the reconciliation effort. However, it was a public secret that both bodies had their partisan views. Very far from being neutral and objective, most members of both bodies were instigators and primary contributors to the turmoil that had plagued the OLF for over a decade. Obbo Leenco Lata (ODF president), Dr. Dima Noggo Sarbo (ODF vice president) and many other officers and members of ODF populated “Miseensota Gameeyyii fi Buleeyyii ABO.” Dararaa Maatii and Bulaa Atoomsaa (formerly of Shanee-OLF and currently ODF officers) and Amiin Jundii (formerly of Shanee, then General Secretary of the Kemal Gelchu group until a week or so ago) led the charge from OAA side. The QC group refused to take part in the “reconciliation” effort by “Miseensota Gameeyyii fi Buleeyyii ABO” citing the committee lacked objectivity and neutrality. It, however, made one appearance at an OAA public meeting which, in the end, one of its supporters judged a “Shanee Gimmick.”

As of September 2010, Shanee and Jijjiirama seemed to have agreed to re-unite. A statement from “the Unification Committee of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF)” on March 12, 2012, reads “Having achieved its internal organizational consolidation, the OLF is ready to work in tandem with organizations, movements and forces struggling for freedom and democracy [NOT DECOLONIZATION OF OROMIA] in Ethiopia to speedily remove the minority dictatorial regime.” Sounds same as the ODF declaration from last week? It is no coincidence! Both documents were produced by ODF.

Unfortunately for ODF, Shanee-OLF refused to proceed further in its unification agreement with Jijjiirama. Speculations abound over factors behind Shanee’s refusal, which is beyond the scope of this piece. What is beyond dispute is that ODF’s effort to re-unite Shanee-OLF and Jijjiirama-OLF failed miserably.

Having been betrayed once by ODF leaders and with Shanee reneging on the unification agreement, the Jijjiirama group went ahead and declared its vision to the world on Jan. 1, 2012, as “To see new federal Republic of Ethiopia …” as drafted and agreed upon with ODF leaders during the planning phase of the coup d’état against Obbo Dawud Ibsaa, and its method as “non-violent struggle.”

Once again, ODF was forced back to the drawing board – which led to the inescapable conclusion that ODF had failed to achieve its goals. After multiple and long strategy discussions over teleconferences and PalTalk room meetings, ODF leaders, their high-level proxies within the two OLF factions and outside OLF, agreed to bite the bullet and give up on masquerading as OLF.

Years of gestation was almost about to kill the mother (OLF), but was also suffocating the child (ODF). Not that ODF leaders cared much about the mother. Something had to be done for the child (ODF) to live and thrive to someday discredit and destroy the mother.

Given the popularity of the brand name and the special love the Oromo people have for the OLF, it was a very difficult decision, but one that had to be made considering the many disappointing defeats ODF had faced. From that decision followed the need for a new organization whose time, according to ODF leaders, had not come, but for whose birth, the ground works should begin without delay.

Folks, say Hi to the Oromo Dialogue Forum – which I will hereafter refer to as ODF1. ODF1’s purported purpose was to facilitate Oromo discussions where everyone could air their views. In reality, however, its purpose was to garner support for the soon to be born Oromo Democratic Front (ODF) from the Oromo public, both back home and in the Diaspora. Instead of facilitating Oromo discussions, ODF1 encouraged the Oromo to give up on the OLF by labeling its objective as “obsolete in a globalized world” and by pointing fingers to its weaknesses – the very weaknesses ODF leaders (as former OLF leaders) created and deepened in the first place. (See, for example, an observer’s personal reflection).

By the leaders’ reckoning, ODF1 was a huge success in that it awakened a huge number of inactive former DERGists and MEISONites, and brought them under the ODF tent. Coupled with the number of ODF agents in Shanee and Jijjiirama – who were called back home, the leaders felt they had the number to be taken seriously by the Oromo, and therefore, time to make the birth of ODF public. They did just that on March 28, 2013 with much pomp and fanfare.

This is a story of ODF’s tortuous path to birth!

ODFites are a very smart bunch! I will give them that because, for the last twelve (12) years, they were able to fool most Oromos in the Diaspora. Even the keenest of observers of Oromo politics had difficulty telling apart the truly OLF from ODFites masquerading as OLFites. For over a decade and a half, ODFites succeeded in obscuring one of the root causes of OLF’s problems. They vehemently denied ideological differences have anything to do with OLF’s problems. At the same time, they were working diligently from within the OLF, and without, to force it to change its objective from dismantling the Ethiopian empire and creating the independent state of Oromia to democratizing Ethiopia. A very cunning bunch indeed! As always, in time, the TRUTH prevailed.

Now that the difference is out in the open, the next logical questions for the Oromo should be: WHO is ODF? HOW will the formation of ODF enhance or hinder the Oromo struggle? WHAT is the basis for its formation and how plausible are they? HOW should the Oromo view ODF? And more …

These are the questions I will turn to in my next piece.

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Footnotes:

[1] Obbo Leenco Lata is a former vice-Chairman of the OLF, and was a close advisor to the Shanee OLF and Jijjiirama-OLF at different times. He was elected president of the Oromo Democratic Front (ODF) formed in March 2013.

[2] At the time, the “Galaasaa Group” included Obbo Galaasaa, Obbo Abiyu Geleta and Obbo Dhugaasaa Bakakkoo, and many other members of the OLF.

[3] Obbo Leenco Lata and Dr. Dima Noggo Sarbo were elected president and vice-president, respectively, of the Oromo Democratic Front (ODF) formed in March 2013, and others whose names are not mentioned here.

[4] “Survival Committee” in Afaan Oromoo; refers to their intention to ensure the survival of OLF’s objective from attacks by ODF.

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