The Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) has announced the passing of the esteemed Oromo freedom fighter and elder, Obbo Dootii Turaa, expressing its profound sorrow at this great loss.

In an official statement, the OLF conveyed that the death of Obbo Dootii Turaa has left them with a sense of deep and immense grief.

Obbo Dootii was born in 1925 in Nageellee Arsi, Arsi West Zone, in the Southeastern part of Oromia. From a young age, he was deeply conscious of his identity. After completing his elementary education, he became a teacher in his home region, serving in Goobee town and later in Maqii, in East Shewa. In this role, he was dedicated to educating his people on various subjects, ensuring they knew their culture and identity, and teaching them about the realities of living under a foreign colonial system.

After moving to Finfinnee (Addis Ababa), he continued his education and, during the reign of Haile Selassie, ventured into business. He built a family home and a business enterprise, and he strategically used the wealth he accumulated to openly support the Oromo struggle for liberation.

He actively participated in the resistance against the feudal regime, taking part in the 1960s student movements and the initial organized resistance. He also supported the Macca and Tuulama Self-Help Association, contributing his professional skills and financial resources in a significant and visible manner.

Furthermore, during a time when few were dedicating themselves to the cause, Obbo Dootii transformed his business into a meeting place for freedom fighters and his family home into a safe house for them. He also provided material support to the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA).

Through his overt and covert work, he collaborated with members and supporters of the OLF, such as the late Luba Guddinaa Tumsaa, Baaroo Tumsaa, Muhee Abdoo, and former OLF High Council member Magarsaa Barii. He was subsequently accused by the oppressive regime of the time and imprisoned for ten years alongside Luba Guddinaa Tumsaa.

Throughout successive Ethiopian regimes—the Haile Selassie monarchy, the Derg, and the TPLF/EPRDF—Obbo Dootii Turaa was repeatedly imprisoned and severely persecuted.

Under the particularly brutal repression of the EPRDF/TPLF/OPDO regime, he was forced into exile, ultimately living as a refugee in the United States.

Obbo Dootii Turaa was a wise Oromo elder, a visionary leader, and a respected authority on Oromo affairs and identity. He remained unwavering in his commitment to Oromo freedom until his final days. He passed away on November 18, 2025, in the United States, at an advanced age after a period of illness.