ODF's first meeting draws large crowd

(OPride) — Following a controversial declaration on March 28, 2013, the newly formed Oromo Democratic Front held its first public gathering in Saint Paul, Minnesota yesterday.

With a record attendance of more than 500 people, the meeting, intended to introduce the new organization to Oromos in Minnesota, was “the largest Oromo political gathering in years”, eyewitnesses told OPride. Minnesota, also known as ‘Little Oromia’, has the largest number of Oromo immigrants outside of Africa.

ODF, a democratic alternative for Ethiopia

(OPride) — After an intense week of discussions in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the activist group Oromo Dialogue Forum on Thursday announced the formation of a new political party, the Oromo Democratic Front.

What’s Next for the Oromo People?

(OPride) – Every year the Minnesota-based Oromo American Citizens Council (OACC) brings together key Oromo political players for a daylong conference on the direction of the Oromo struggle. This year's conference, it's fifth – while not different – came at a crucial time when the Oromo struggle is at crossroads.

Two prominent leaders desert OLF faction

(OPride) -- Taha Tuko and Amin Jundi storm out of OLF's General Galchu faction citing differences with the group's leader. The faction's most senior and considered by many to be the backbone of the group, the duo not only resigned from their leadership posts but also rescinded their membership in the organization.

The untold story of Oromo freedom fighter

(OPride) — Ibro Shaxa was killed at the battle of Ciracha during Egyptian invasion of Harar led by Rauf Pasha in 1876. He left behind a teenage son, Hamid. Unlike his father, Hamid was poisoned by Menelik after the battle of Calanqo (1887) in which the Abyssinian army defeated Oromo fighters. Hamid too, left his young son, Ibrahim, behind.

Jara Abba Gadaa: a hero and legend in his own time

by Dr. Mohammed Hassen*

(OPride) — Abdulkarim Ibrahim Hamid, who is popularly known as Jarra Abba Gadaa, was a long-standing Oromo nationalist. His death a few days ago was a great loss for his family, for all those who knew him, for our people and for all freedom loving people everywhere. He was an exceptional person, who was driven with passion for freedom and human dignity of his people.

How Soccer Explains Ethiopia

(OPride) — Ethiopia has a rich and complicated history, one that is best described as “a contested terrain.” If this landlocked Horn of Africa country is known for anything though, soccer surely isn’t one of them. But if you ask about an African country known for recurrent famine, long distance runners, beautiful women, and ‘cute’ and adoptable babies at your Friday night trivia game, you may actually get the right answer.

Jara Abba Gadaa, Oromo freedom icon, dies at 77

(OPride) — Abdulkarim Ibrahim Hamid, better known with his nom de guerre as Jara Abba Gadaa, a relentless Oromo freedom fighter and one of the founding members of the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), died yesterday of kidney failure at a hospital in Yemen. He was 77.

Oromo activists rally for justice in homeland

(OPride) — On Friday Jan. 25, several hundred Oromo immigrants staged concurrent demonstrations in Washington, D.C. and London calling for the release of political prisoners, respect of the constitution, and the establishment of rule of law in Ethiopia.