By Sultan Kassim Genna

For six decades, the Oromo struggle has been defined by resilience—and regrettably, by division. From the era of Haile Fida and Baro Tumsa to the present, ideological splits and competing visions have repeatedly diluted the movement’s potential.The Oromo struggle for freedom and equality has been haunted by a legacy of fragmentation.Currently the Oromo struggle is at crossroads. Colonel Fisseha Desta’s lament over Ethiopia’s missed opportunities—failing to unite intellectual, militant, and patriotic forces—resonates deeply here. The Oromo elite now face a similar reckoning: “unity is not optional; it is the bedrock of meaningful progress”.

The recent joint conference between the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) offers a glimmer of hope. By prioritizing internal consensus on power-sharing frameworks and ceasefire terms, the meeting signaled a critical shift from rhetoric to pragmatism. This is not mere symbolism. It is a historic step toward reclaiming agency in a landscape too often dominated by fragmentation.

The Conference is a blueprint for cohesion.Critics may dismiss dialogue between Oromo factions as redundant, but this misunderstands the stakes. For decades, disunity has allowed the Oromo political agenda to be overshadowed by infighting, social media polemics, and reactive posturing. The OLF-OFC conference, by contrast, was deliberate in its focus: to forge a unified front capable of negotiating with the Prosperity Party (PP) government from a position of strength.

The Oromo political class must first reconcile its own divergences before engaging adversaries. The conference’s emphasis on internal reconciliation—particularly on power-sharing within Oromia and terms for a sustainable ceasefire—demonstrates maturity. It acknowledges that fragmented demands will yield fragmented results.

Beyond Social Media activism, the elite’s constructive mandate is in short supply. Too often, Oromo elites have confined their roles to sporadic critiques or performative activism. The conference challenges this inertia. Constructive leadership requires moving beyond baseless accusations and fictional narratives to engage in grounded, solution-oriented debates.The elite must pivot from being commentators to architects of a coherent agenda.

This demands:

1. Clarity over chaos: Replace vague slogans with specific proposals—on power-sharing mechanisms, demilitarization timelines, and institutional guarantees for Oromo self-determination.

2. Accountability to the public: The Oromo people, who have borne the brunt of violence and instability, deserve leaders who prioritize their survival over partisan grandstanding.

3. Civility in discourse: Disagreements over strategy must not devolve into personal attacks. Democracy thrives on respectful debate, not division.

In negotiating with the PP our unity is a leverage.The PP government’s engagement with Oromo demands has been inconsistent, often exploiting the movement’s fractures. A unified Oromo front, however, could reset this dynamic. By presenting a joint agenda—rooted in shared priorities like equitable governance and an end to conflict—the OLF and OFC can compel meaningful dialogue. This is not naivety. History shows that divided movements rarely secure lasting concessions. The conference’s value lies in its potential to transform the Oromo struggle from a scattered chorus of grievances into a coordinated force. For negotiations to succeed, the PP must face a coalition that speaks with one voice on core issues.

In conclusion: we say the time for strategic unity is now. The OLF-OFC conference marks a pivotal moment. It is a call to abandon the self-defeating cycles of the past and embrace a future where Oromo political energy is channeled into tangible outcomes. To the elites: your task is not merely to critique but to construct. To the public: demand leaders who replace fragmentation with focus.

Ethiopia’s stability hinges on resolving the Oromo question justly. But justice cannot emerge from disarray. Let this conference be the foundation of a new era—one where Oromo unity becomes the catalyst for progress, not just for Oromia, but for all Ethiopians.

Let’s debate and forge our future.