Oromo Scholars and Professionals based in North America, Europe, and Australia send an open letter to President Isaias Afewerki of Eritrea unequivocally denouncing his unprovoked attack on Oromo Identity
Open Letter to President Isaias Afwerki
June 05, 2025
Mr. Isaias Afwerki
President of Eritrea
Your Excellency,
We, the undersigned Oromo scholars and professionals, write this letter to you to unequivocally denounce your unprovoked attack on Oromo identity during your speech on 24 May 2025, marking Eritrea’s 34th Independence Anniversary.
The speech, which seemed to strike at the Prosperity Party (PP) of Ethiopia, carried an open and somber attack on the Oromo identity, causing a serious resentment and tarnishing the positive views and opinions Eritrea enjoyed among our people. Pursuant to the unhealthy trend that Eritrean politics adopted in recent years, we wrote our first letter to you on February 28, 2020, in which we called upon your government to “refrain from blatant acts of intervention that will ultimately harm the people on both sides of the border,” and “align, should you wish, your political measures to be on the side of the people to foster lasting peace and prosperity for our peoples.” A copy of that letter is attached. Our 2020 call fell on deaf ears, and in fact, we see Eritrean politics growing more hostile not only to the Oromo struggle, but also to the Oromo identity.
In your speech, you baselessly linked PP with the “ideology of Orommuma”. You identified Oromummaa (translated as “being Oromo”) as an unacceptable ideology of PP to conveniently besmirch the Oromo identity using the very party that attacks Oromo identity. Evidence recorded by independent international organizations is abundant to show that the PP government jails, tortures, and kills Oromos more than any group in Ethiopia. In your own speech, you acknowledged that PP doesn’t represent the Oromo people, which contradicts the stated reason for which you criticize PP. Yet, you chose an irresponsible ploy to disparage PP, the very party you helped and supported against the will of our people until a few years ago. You mugged the millions whose identity, Oromummaa, was targeted for over a century, and the hundreds of thousands who still languish in Ethiopian prisons
for the sole reason that they proudly identify themselves as Oromos. Clearly, a self-contradicting incongruity emerges from your speech; if “being Oromo” is an unacceptable ideology, how would being Eritrean, being Tigrean, etc. become acceptable?
Mr. Afwerki,
Your reference to “Cushitic-Semitic antagonism,” a non-existing antipathy, is more of a call for such an encounter, than a caution from a concerned leader. Such antagonism is not known even to this scholarly forum. So, why was it necessary to conceive a wider platform of conflict when the region cannot handle even local clashes that have kept it in perpetual poverty? What is the political gain for Eritrea that can be redeemed from a bloody war between North and South? We leave the answers to you.
In closing, we hereby pronounce our grave concern that peace is evading the region once again; a palpable tension of war permeates the Horn of Africa. Your speech not only added to the prevailing tension fueling the existing contradictions, but it also demonstrated a condescending disrespect for the identity of our people. We categorically denounce your statements and urge you to reconsider such dangerous rhetoric.
Respectfully,
Oromo Scholars and Professionals (Email: oromo.scholoars.professionals@gmail.com Signatories (in alphabetical order):
1. Abdisa Koricho (PhD)
2. Abraham Mosisa (MSc)
3. Adugna Birhanu (PhD)
4. Ahmed Gelchu (PhD)
5. Alemayehu Biru (PhD)
6. Aman Kedir (MA)
7. Amanuel Gobena (PhD)
8. Asebe Regasa (PhD)
9. Asafa Jalata (PhD)
10. Asfaw Beyene (PhD)
11. Ayana Gobena (PhD)
12. Ayele Teressa (PhD)
13. Bahiru Duguma (PhD)
14. Bahiru Gametchu (PhD)
15. Baro Deressa (MD)
16. Bedassa Tadesse (PhD)
17. Begna Dugassa (PhD)
18. Beekan Erena (MEd)
19. Bekele Temesgen (PhD)
20. Benti Getahun (PhD)
21. Benti Ujulu (PhD)
22. Berhanu Kedida (MD)
23. Beletech Dheresa (PhD)
24. Bersisa Berri (PhD)
25. Beyan Asoba (PhD)
26. Bichaka Fayissa (PhD)
27. Daniel Ayana (PhD)
28. Daniel Dibaba (PhD)
29. Degefa Abdissa (MD)
30. Demissie Karorsa (PhD)
31. Dessalegn Negerie (PhD)
32. Desta Yebassa (PhD)
33. Ezekiel Gebissa (PhD)
34. Fantahun Diba (PhD)
35. Galaana Balcha (MD)
36. Gemechu Abeshu (PhD)
37. Geremew Begna (PhD)
38. Geremew Nigatu (PhD)
39. Gizachew Tesso (PhD)
40. Gizaw Tasissa (PhD)
41. Gobena Huluka (PhD)
42. Guluma Gemeda (PhD)
43. Gutu Olana (PhD)
44. Habtalem Kenea (PhD)
45. Haile Hirpa (PhD)
46. Hambisa Belina (PhD)
47. Henok Gabisa (PhD)
48. Ibrahim Elemo (PhD)
49. Iddoosaa Ejeta (PhD)
50. Imiru Itana (MSc)
51. Ismael Abdullahi (PhD)
52. Jamal Ebrahim (MD)
53. Jemal Hebano (PharmD)
54. Jenberu Feyisa (PhD)
55. Jirenya Gudeta (MSc)
56. Junaidi Ahmed (MD)
57. Kano Banjaw (PhD)
58. Kebene Kejela (PhD)
59. Koste Abdissa (PhD)
60. Mekbib Gebeyehu (PhD)
61. Mekuria Bulcha (PhD)
62. Mesfin Abdi (PhD)
63. Michael Oli (MSc)
64. Moa Apagodu (PhD)
65. Mohammed Hassan (PhD)
66. Mohammed Tahiro (PhD)
67. Mosisa Aga (PhD)
68. Namara Garbaba (PhD)
69. Oli Bachie (PhD)
70. Regassa Oljira (EdD)
71. Rundassa Eshete (PhD)
72. Samuel Geleta (PhD)
73. Solomon Geleta (PhD)
74. Teferi Margo (PhD)
75. Tekleab Shibru (PhD)
76. Tesfaye Negeri (PhD)
77. Tesfaye Tesso (PhD)
78. Teshome Dime (MSc)
79. Thomas Baisa (MD)
80. Tolawak Beyene (MD)
81. Tsegaye Ararsa (PhD)
82. Workineh Torben (PhD)
83. Worku Burayu (PhD)
84. Zelealem Abera (MSc)
85. Zelalem Negassa (MSc)
