Ethiopia: A Song Upends a Country

 Ethiopia Insight published on 16 May 2026 a commentary titled "Teddy Afro's Mourning Tent and Ethiopia's Fractured National Imagination" by Belete Addis Yemata, University of Melbourne.

Teddy Afro's new album Etorika and especially the opening song, Das Tal (loosely meaning "pitch the tent"), has drawn more than 140 million views on You Tube and ignited political arguments throughout the Ethiopian community.  Reactions to Das Tal exposed political loyalty, politico-religious alignment, competing ideas of Ethiopia, and different opinions about Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.  

Ethiopia: Conflict in Oromia

 Ethiopia Insight published on 24 July 2025 an article titled "Under Two Flags: Life in Dembi Dollo" by Ermias Tasfaye, an Ethiopia Insight reporter based in Oromia.

The town of Dembi Dollo in western Oromia is at the center of the region's long conflict between the Ethiopian state and Oromo nationalism.  The Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) is waging an insurgency against the federal government.  Dembi Dollo town remains under government control because of heavy security while the OLA dominates the countryside.  Dembi Dollo is griped with fear.  

Ethiopia's Other War in Oromia

 Foreign Policy posted on 16 November 2022 a commentary titled "Ethiopia's Other War: As Peace Talks Progress in Tigray, Tensions Are Mounting in Oromia" by Nosmot Gbadamosi.

Hostilities between the Oromo Liberation Army and Ethiopian central government forces are causing increasing casualties in Oromia Region.  The rise of Oromo nationalism and resentment of Amhara minority communities inside Oromia contribute to the mounting tension.  

Oromo Nationalism and the Future of Ethiopia

 Ethiopia Insight published on 24 August 2022 a commentary titled "Oromo Nationalism Should Cross the River of Resentment" by Zola Moges.  

The commentary reviews the background and fissures of Oromo nationalism in Ethiopia but mistakenly comments that the Oromo are an ethnic majority rather than an ethnic plurality.  The author acknowledges the killing of Amhara in Oromia and concludes that "Oromo nationalism has failed to cross the river of resentment, resistance, and retaliation, and thus remains a captive of its history and successes."  The author adds that it is time for Oromo nationalism to align itself with today's reality.  

Ethiopia: Insights on Politics in Oromia

 Ethiopia Insight published on 19 August 2021 a detailed commentary titled "EIEP: Prosperity Party's Win Is a Loss for Oromia--and Ethiopia" by Ermias Tasfaye, Ethiopia Insight reporter who lives in Oromia.

The author argues that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has failed to reconcile Ethiopia and Oromo political identities and so failed to live up to his own promises.  The commentary focuses on the competing views in Oromia of support for Oromo nationalism versus pan-Ethiopianism.  

Ethiopia's 2018 Deal with Oromo Fighters Backfires

 Ethiopia Insight published on 24 April 2021 a commentary titled "Ethiopia's Bungled 2018 Deal with Oromo Rebels Is the Cause of Current Turmoil" by Marew Abebe Salemot, Debark University.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's 2018 decision to grant amnesty to exiled Oromo fighters (most of them in Eritrea) on the promise they would lay down their arms resulted in some of them now engaging in a separatist campaign in Oromia.

Oromo Nationalism or Pan-Ethiopianism?

Ethiopia Insight published on 23 February 2020 a commentary titled "Oromo Nationalism in the Era of Prosperity Party" by Nagessa Dube, a lawyer in Minneapolis.

The author describes the conflicting views among Ethiopia's Oromo between a preference for Oromo nationalism or support for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's pan-Ethiopian Prosperity Party.