Ethiopia: Why Oromo Protests Isn't Just a Protest Against a 'Master Plan'?

opinion

In mid-April 2014 senior officials from the Oromiya Special Zone were the first ones to have publically resisted the Addis Abeba and Surrounding Oromiya Special Zone Integrated Development Plan (AASOSZIDP), popularly known by its misnomer 'Master Plan'. Subsequently hundreds of thousands of university students and residents in various cities of the Oromiya Regional State took to the streets to protest the 'Master Plan'after a program on the discussion was first aired on TV Oromiya. The government's immediate response was to crackdown the protest using excessive force; but that left providing a lasting solution untouched. One and half year later on November 12thprotestors were back on the streets again and spread through many more towns involving different segments of the population. The result is no different than was in 2014; more bloodshed, deaths and destruction the extent of which is still unknown.

In this article, I will argue why the fresh protests are no longer about a resistance to the so called 'Master Plan'but a resistance against economic, socio-cultural and political marginalisation of the ethnic Oromos in and around Addis Abeba and beyond.

...

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.