A Hero’s Farewell: Oromo Liberation Veteran Abba Boru Dhaddacha Qamphare Passes Away

FINFINNE – The Oromo people have lost one of their most dedicated and resilient sons. Abba Boru Dhaddacha Qamphare, a renowned scholar, a steadfast freedom fighter, a development expert, and a humanitarian, passed away on Muddee 15, 2025. His life was a profound testament to unwavering service to his people and an unyielding commitment to justice.

Born on Amajjii 19, 1952, to his father Dhaddacha Qamphare Jaldessaa Iyyaa and mother Qabbalee Waariyoo Guyyoo, Abba Boru’s journey was one of intellect and courage. He pursued his primary education at the Mission School in Nagellee Boorana and continued his secondary studies in Yirgalem. A man fortified by knowledge, he graduated with a law degree from Finfinne University. His quest for learning then took him to the United Kingdom, where he earned a Master’s degree from the University of Sussex, focusing on development economics. He was in the midst of pursuing his PhD there when duty called him back to the struggle.

Abba Boru’s life was defined by sacrifice. Twice, he put his people’s calling above his own academic ambitions, interrupting his studies to participate directly in the Oromo liberation movement, enduring immense hardship in the process.

His involvement in the struggle was deep and multifaceted. While pursuing his first degree, he joined the fight to secure the borders of Oromia in the Boorana region. Later, following the collapse of the Derg regime in 1991, he once again set aside his PhD studies to play a pivotal role in the political transformations and the ongoing Oromo struggle.

Abba Boru was a contemporary and comrade of legendary Oromo figures such as Baaroo Tumsa, Galaasaa Dilboo, Leencoo Lata, Dhaddacha Gololcha, and Dheressaa Qiixee. His work was instrumental in entrenching the Oromo struggle in the Boorana and Gujii regions. He worked alongside leaders like Colonel Salasaa Jaaloo, Boruu Diinee, and Saaraa Jarsoo to build upon the movement’s foundations. He was also a key figure, alongside activists like Godaanaa Tunii Khanoo and Shalaaqaa Jataanii Alii, in fostering political and economic development awareness.

In the wake of the assassination of Shalaaqaa Jataanii Alii, Abba Boru stepped into a senior leadership role in the region, working tirelessly to strengthen the unity of the Oromo people across the Ethiopian and Kenyan borders. Even after the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) withdrew from the transitional government, he continued to lead the national struggle from Kenya alongside Dr. Diimaa Naggahoo.

Beyond his political activism, Abba Boru was a dedicated development expert and humanitarian. His expertise was prominently featured in the ‘Southern Rangeland Project,’ where he focused on creating economic opportunities for pastoralist communities. He also served with distinction at the Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), rising to the position of national coordinator. In this capacity, he worked to bring the socio-economic challenges of southern Ethiopia’s pastoralists to the world’s attention, advocating for comprehensive and inclusive development.

Abba Boru Dhaddacha Qamphare will be remembered as a pure-hearted leader, an intellectual, and a compassionate human being. His life was a continuous struggle for the rights of the voiceless, a manifestation of developmental change, and a model of true human service.

Though the hero is gone, his legacy is etched in the history he helped shape. His story will bear witness for generations to come, inspiring a future built on justice, dignity, and compassion for the vulnerable, including the orphans he helped raise.

Rest in power, Abba Boru. Your struggle is our foundation. Your memory is eternal.
Nagaan boqodhi.