Seenaa Jiruu fi Jireenya Goota Rufaa’el Tasammaa: Dhalootaaf Fakkeenya Ta’uun Kan Jiraatu

Australia, Bitootessa 15, 2026 — Goota kabajamaan, qabsaa’aan jabaan, fi nama of-kenninsa guddaa qabu Rufaa’el Tasammaa armaan gaddaa Waaqayyooti.Firoonni isaa, hiriyoonni isaa, fi hawaasni Oromoo baay’een isaa bakka tokko walitti qabamanii goota kana kabajaan awwaalan. Sirni awwaala isaa har’a guyyaa Bitootessa 15, 2026 biyya Australia keessatti raawwateera.

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Seenaa Jireenya Rufaa’el Tasammaa (1975-2026)

1. Jalqaba Jireenyaa: Dambii Doolloo

Rufaa’el bara 1975 Qellem Wallaggaa, magaalaa Dambii Doolloo keessatti dhalate. Haati Rufaa’el erga isa da’anii booda, hospitaala Dambii Doolloo keessatti utuu hin bahin boqotee. Yeroo sanaan, Dr. Dorombos jedhamu kan USA dhaa fi haati warraa isaa Missis Doromboos Rufaa’elin akka abbaa fi haadhaa isaatiin fudhatanii guddisan. Dr. Dorombos yeroo sana directorii hospitaala sanaa ture.

2. Ijoollummaa fi Barumsa Isaa

Rufaa’el barnoota sadarkaa tokkoffaa achuma magaalaa Dambii Doolloo keessatti barate. Booda Dr. Dorombos Dambii Doolloo irraa gara hospitaala Ayiraa, Lixa Wallagaatti jijjiramaniif, innis isaan waliin godaanee Ayiratti guddate. Barnoota sadarkaa tokkoffaa Ayiratti xumuree, sadarkaa lammaffaa Achumatti eegale.

3. Seenaa Qabsootti Makamuu Isaa

Bara 1992, Rufaa’el umuriin isaa waggoota 17 qofa ta’uu, barumsa isaa sadarkaa lammaffaa addaan kutee, qabsoo bilisummaa Oromootti dabalame. Miseensa Waraana Bilisummaa Oromoo (WBO) ta’uun, Lixa Wallaggaa fi Qellem Wallaggaa naannoolee adda addaa keessa socho’aa ture. Qabsoo keessatti hirmaachuun, of-kenninsa guddaa agarsiise.

4. Rakkina, Baqaatummaa fi Hidhaa

Bara 1992, ABO charteraa keessaa bahee booda, Rufaa’el Qellem Wallaggaa fi Lixa Wallaggaa keessatti diinaan barbaadamaa ture. Kanaafuu, gara Finfinnee (Addis Ababa) godaane, jireenya baqaatummaa biyya isaa keessa jiraachaa ture. Haala kanaan utuu jiruu, diinaan qabamee, mana hidhaa “Deeppoo” jedhamu magaalaa Adaamaatti hidhame. Waggoota muraasa mana hidhaa keessa ture.

5. Godaansa Biyya Alaa

Erga mana hidhaa irraa bahee, biyya irraa baqatee gara Jibuuti, eeggasii gara Keenyaa godaane. Waggoota muraasa biyya Keenyaa keessa jiraatee booda, qubsuma argachuun bara 2001 gara Australiyaa dhufe.

6. Jireenya Australiyaa

Waggaa 25 Australiyaa keessa jiraate keessa, Allied Health Assistant ta’uun hospitaalota adda addaa keessa hojjate. Keessaa waggaa 15 St Vincent Hospital keessatti hojjate. Hanga Fulbaana (September) 2025 hojjachaa ture; sana booda sababa dhukkubaa hojii dhaabe.

7. Gumaacha Qabsoo Bilisummaa Oromoof

Jireenya isaa guutuu keessatti, Rufaa’el qabsoo bilisummaa Oromoof gumaacha guddaa kan godhe yoo ta’u, quamaan isaa fi of-kenniinsa guddaadhaan hanga dhukkubaan dadhabutti hirmaachaa ture. Ofiisaa qusannaa malee, yeroo fi qabeenya isaa qabsoof kenne.

8. Maatii fi Ijoollee Isaa

Rufaa’el bara 2013 keessa warra ijarrate. Gaa’ela sana irraa ijoollee durbaa lakkuu, Feeneet fi Feenaan jedhaman bara 2016 argate. Ijoolleen isaa amma umuriin isaanii waggaa 10.

9. Du’a Isaa

Rufaa’el bara 2026 keessa, dhukkuba dheeraa booda, du’een isaa eebbifame. Duuti isaa hawaasa Oromoo, maatii, firoota, fi hiriyyoota isaa gaddaan godhe. Guyyaa 15 Bitootessa 2026, Australiyaa keessatti awwaalame.

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Gadda Olaanaa

Hawaasni Oromoo, adda durummaan Konyaan ABO Victoria, goota isaa kana dhabuu isaatti gadda olaanaa qaba. Rufaa’el qabsaa’aa qabsoo qofa utuu hin taane, namummaa gaarii, jaalala, fi tattaaffii guddaa qabu ture. Namni isa beeku hunduu wantoota gaarii dubbata.

Maatiin isaa, keessumaa ijoolleen isaa Feeneet fi Feenaan, amma gadda keessa jiraachaa jiru. Haati manaa isaa namtiin cimina dhabde. Hawaasni Oromoo isaan biratti dhaabataa jiraachuu isaa hubachiisaa jira.

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Ergaa Gadda

“Goota Rufaa’el, ati seenaa kee nuuf dhiiftee deemte. Ati nu hin dagatin; nuus si hin dagannu. Qabsoo kee nu fufna. Nagaan boqoli!”

“Waaqayyo lubbuu kee jannata keessa haa boqochiisu! Maatiin kee, ijoolleen kee Feeneet fi Feenaan, Waaqayyo isaaniif cimina haa kennu!”

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Yaadannoowwan

• Bara Dhaloota: 1975
• Bara Du’aa: 2026
• Biyya Dhaloota: Qellem Wallaggaa, Dambii Doolloo
• Guyyaa Awwaalaa: Bitootessa 15, 2026
• Bakka Awwaalaa: Australia

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KABAAJAAN SI YAADANNA, GOOTA RUFAA’EL! 🙏🏿✨

NAGAAN BOQOLI! 🕊️

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በኦሮሞ ነፃነት ትግል ውስጥ ሙሉ ሕይወታቸውን ያሳለፈ ታጋይ ማህበረሰቡን ለቋል

የኦሮሞ ማህበረሰብ ከታማኞቹ ልጆቹ አንዱን ሩፋኤል ተሠማን በማጣቱ በሐዘን ተጠምቋል። በሕመም ምክንያት የሞተው ሩፋኤል ለኦሮሞ ነፃነት ትግል ቁርጠኛ ታማኝነት ያሳየ ሲሆን የሕይወቱ ታሪክ—አህጉራትን ያቋረጠ፣ የትጥቅ ትግልንም ሆነ ሰላማዊ ዕርዳታን ያካተተ፣ በጥልቅ የግል መሥዋዕትነት የታጀበ—የአንድ ሙሉ የኦሮሞ ታጋዮች ትውልድ ጉዞን ያንጸባርቃል።

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የልጅነት ዘመን፡ በትግል ውስጥ መወለድ

ሩፋኤል በ1975 በቄለም ወለጋ ከተማ ዳምቢ ዶሎ ተወለደ። ወደ ዓለም መምጣቱ በአሳዛኝ ሁኔታ ታጅቦ ነበር፡ እናቱ በዳምቢ ዶሎ ሆስፒታል ከወለደችው በኋላ ከሆስፒታል ሳትወጣ ሞተች። በዚያ ወሳኝ ወቅት፣ የሆስፒታሉ ዳይሬክተር የነበሩት አሜሪካዊው ዶ/ር ዶሮምቦስ እና ባለቤታቸው ሚሲስ ዶሮምቦ ሩፋኤልን እንደ ራሳቸው ልጅ አድርገው አሳደጉት።

ይህ ባሕላዊ ድንበር ያሻገረ የርኅራኄ ተግባር የሩፋኤልን ሕይወት አዳነ እና በሕፃንነቱ መረጋጋትን ሰጠው። የመጀመሪያ ደረጃ ትምህርቱን በዳምቢ ዶሎ ጀመረ፣ ይህም በኋላ ላይ ባልተጠበቀ መልኩ የሚያገለግለውን የትምህርት መሠረት ጥሏል።

ዶ/ር ዶሮምቦስ ከዳምቢ ዶሎ ወደ ምዕራብ ወለጋ አይራ ሆስፒታል ሲዛወሩ፣ ወጣቱ ሩፋኤል ከአሳዳጊ ወላጆቹ ጋር ተንቀሳቀሰ። የመጀመሪያ ደረጃ ትምህርቱን በአይራ አጠናቆ የሁለተኛ ደረጃ ትምህርቱን እዚያው ጀመረ። በዚህ ጊዜ የአካዳሚክ ዕውቀትን ብቻ ሳይሆን የማደጎ ወላጆቹ የሚያሳዩትን የርኅራኄ እና አገልግሎት እሴቶችንም ተቀስፏል።

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ጥሪውን መቀበል፡ የነፃነት ትግልን መቀላቀል

በ1992፣ በ17 ዓመቱ፣ ሩፋኤል ቀሪ ሕይወቱን የሚቀርጽ ውሳኔ አደረገ፡ የሁለተኛ ደረጃ ትምህርቱን አቋርጦ የኦሮሞ ነፃነት ትግልን ተቀላቀለ። ይህ በቀላሉ የተወሰነ ምርጫ አልነበረም። ከዶሮምቦስ ቤተሰብ ጋር የነበረውን አንጻራዊ መረጋጋት መተው፣ ትምህርቱን መተው፣ እና የትጥቅ ትግልን እርግጠኛ ያልሆነ አደጋ መቀበልን ያመለክታል።

ሩፋኤል የኦሮሞ ነፃነት ሠራዊት አባል ሆነ፣ በተለያዩ የምዕራብ ወለጋ እና ቄለም ወለጋ አካባቢዎች በመንቀሳቀስ በትጥቅ ትግል ተሳተፈ። እነዚህ ዓመታት የማያቋርጥ እንቅስቃሴ፣ በደን ውስጥ መኖር፣ ጠላትን በቀጥታ መጋፈጥ እና የሕዝቡን ተስፋ መሸከምን ያካተቱ ነበሩ።

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ስደት እና እስራት

በ1992፣ ከኦሮሞ ነፃነት ግንባር ከሽግግር መንግሥት መውጣቱን ተከትሎ፣ ሩፋኤል በቄለም ወለጋ እና በምዕራብ ወለጋ በመንግሥት ኃይሎች ዘንድ ተፈላጊ ሆነ። ወደ ፊንፊኔ (አዲስ አበባ) ለመሸሽ ተገደደ፣ በራሱ አገር ውስጥ እንደ ተፈናቃይ እየኖረ።

ለመደበቅ ቢሞክርም፣ በመጨረሻ በመንግሥት ኃይሎች ተይዞ በአዳማ ከተማ ወደሚገኘው ዴፖ እስር ቤት ተጣለ። ከፍተኛ የሕይወት ዘመኑን በእስር ቤት አሳለፈ፣ የኦሮሞን ተቃውሞ ለማፍረስ የቆረጠውን ሥርዓት ጭካኔ በራሱ ተሞክሯል።

ከእስር ቤት ከተለቀቀ በኋላ፣ ሩፋኤል ወደ ስደት ተገደደ። መጀመሪያ ወደ ጎረቤት ጅቡቲ፣ ከዚያም ወደ ኬንያ በመሸሽ በስደት ላይ እያለ በርካታ ዓመታት አሳለፈ። እነዚህ የስደት ዓመታት—ከአገሩ ተለይቶ፣ የወደፊቱ እርግጠኛ ባልሆነበት፣ ነገር ግን ለዓላማው ያለውን ቁርጠኝነት ፈጽሞ ሳይተው—ስለ ጽናቱ ይመሰክራሉ።

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በአውስትራሊያ አዲስ ሕይወት መገንባት

በታህሳስ 2001፣ ሩፋኤል የስደተኛነት ደረጃ ተሰጥቶት ወደ አውስትራሊያ ሄደ። ለ25 ዓመታት በአዲሱ አገሩ ሕይወት ሲገነባ የቆየ ሲሆን፣ የተወውን ትግል ግን ፈጽሞ አልረሳውም።

በተለያዩ የአውስትራሊያ ሆስፒታሎች ውስጥ እንደ አሊድ ሄልዝ አሲስታንት (የተባባሪ ጤና ረዳት) ሠርቷል፣ ከእነዚህም ውስጥ 15 ዓመታትን በሴንት ቪንሴንት ሆስፒታል አሳልፏል። በሥራው በኩል፣ በማደጎ ወላጆቹ የተመሠረተውን የአገልግሎት ቅርስ ቀጠለ—ሕመምተኞችን መንከባከብ፣ ተጋላጭ የሆኑትን መርዳት፣ ለተቀበለው ማህበረሰብ አስተዋጽኦ ማድረግ።

በመስከረም 2025፣ በሕመም ምክንያት ሥራውን ማቆም ተገደደ። የሕይወት ዘመኑን በሙሉ ከሰጠ በኋላ—ለትግሉ፣ ለማህበረሰቡ፣ ለሕመምተኞቹ—ሰውነቱ ከእንግዲህ የሚጠይቀውን ፍላጎት መሸከም አልቻለም።

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ቤተሰብ እና የግል ሕይወት

በ2013፣ ሩፋኤል አግብቶ ቤተሰብ መሠረተ። ከዚህ ጋብቻ በ2016 የተወለዱትን መንታ ሴት ልጆቹን ፌነት እና ፌናንን አገኘ። እነሱ የሕይወቱ ብርሃን ነበሩ—ሁሉም መሥዋዕቶቹ ትርጉም ያገኙላቸው የወደፊት ትውልድ።

ምንም እንኳን ከእነሱ ጋር ያሳለፈው ጊዜ አጭር ቢሆንም፣ ሕይወቱን በሙሉ ሕይወታቸው የሚመራቸውን የድፍረት እና ቁርጠኝነት ቅርስ ትቷል። አባታቸው ተዋጊ፣ በሕይወት የተረፈ፣ ለሕዝቡ ሁሉንም ነገር የሰጠ ሰው እንደነበር እያወቁ ያድጋሉ።

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የሕይወት ዘመን አስተዋጽኦ

በሕይወት ዘመኑ ሁሉ፣ ሩፋኤል ለኦሮሞ ነፃነት ትግል ያበረከተው አስተዋጽኦ ከፍተኛ ነበር። የትጥቅ ትግሉን ከለቀቀ በኋላም ቢሆን፣ በአውስትራሊያ ከተረጋጋ በኋላም ቢሆን፣ ለዓላማው መደገፉን ቀጠለ። በሕመም እስከተዳከመ ድረስ፣ ንቁ ተሳትፎ ማድረጉን ቀጠለ፣ ለሕዝቦቹ ነፃነት ራሱን ሳይቆጥብ ሠርቷል።

ሕይወቱ የሚያሳየው የኦሮሞ ነፃነት ትግል በወለጋ ደን ወይም በኢትዮጵያ እስር ቤቶች ብቻ የተወሰነ አለመሆኑን ነው—ኦሮሞዎች በሚሰበሰቡበት እና ለአገራቸው ነፃነት በሚሠሩበት በየትኛውም የዲያስፖራ ማዕዘን ይደርሳል።

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ማህበረሰቡ ማልቀስ

የሩፋኤል ሞት በቤተሰቦቹ፣ በዘመዶቹ፣ በወዳጆቹ እና በመላው የኦሮሞ ማህበረሰብ ዘንድ ክፍተት ፈጥሯል። የሚያውቁት ሁሉ የፖለቲካ ቁርጠኝነቱን ብቻ ሳይሆን የግል ሞቅ ያለ ባህሪውን—ለመርዳት ያለውን ፈቃደኝነት፣ የተረጋጋ መኖሩን፣ ለዓላማው የማይናወጠውን እምነት ያስታውሳሉ።

ማህበረሰቡ በሐዘን ሳለ፣ ለቤተሰቦቹ ጥንካሬን እንመኛለን፡ ለሚስቱ፣ ለመንታ ሴት ልጆቹ ፌነት እና ፌናን፣ ለዘመዶቹ፣ እና ለሚወዱት ሁሉ። ዋቃዮ (እግዚአብሔር) ይህን ኪሳራ ለመሸከም የሚያስችል ጥንካሬን እና ሩፋኤል ዓላማ ያለው ሕይወት እንደኖረ ማወቅ የሚሰጠውን መጽናኛ ይስጣቸው።

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የመጨረሻ ማረፊያ

ነፍሱ በዘላለም ገነት በሰላም ታርፍ።

የሩፋኤል ተሠማ ጉዞ ተጠናቋል። በዳምቢ ዶሎ ሆስፒታል ከተወለደበት አሳዛኝ ሁኔታ ጀምሮ፣ በዓመታት የትጥቅ ትግል፣ እስራት፣ ስደት እና በመጨረሻም በአውስትራሊያ መጠለያ እስከማግኘት ድረስ፣ ሁልጊዜ የኦሮሞ ነፃነትን ችቦ ተሸክሟል። ሁሉንም ነገር ሰጥቷል—ወጣትነቱን፣ ነፃነቱን፣ ምቾቱን፣ ጤንነቱን—ለሚያምንበት ዓላማ።

አሁን አርፏል። አሁን ከሥቃይ፣ ከትግል፣ ከሙሉ በሙሉ ከተሰጠ ሕይወት ድካም ነፃ ነው። እናም እነዚያ የቀሩት—ቤተሰቦቹ፣ ማህበረሰቡ፣ ሕዝቡ—በሩፋኤል ምሳሌ ተጠናክረው፣ በመሥዋዕቱ ተመስጠው፣ ያመነበትን ትግል ወደፊት ይዘውት ይሄዳሉ።

አውስትራሊያ፣ መጋቢት ፲፭ ቀን ፳፻፲፰ ዓ.ም. — የሟቹ ሩፋኤል ተሠማ የቀብር ሥነ ሥርዓት ዛሬ በአውስትራሊያ ተፈጽሟል። ሥነ ሥርዓቱ የተካሄደው ዘመዶች፣ ወዳጆች እና ሰፊው የኦሮሞ ማህበረሰብ በተገኙበት ሲሆን፣ ሁሉም ለዚህ ታማኝ የሕዝቡ ልጅ የመጨረሻ ክብር ለመስጠት ተሰብስበው ነበር።

ጀግና፣ በሰላም እረፍ! በክብር እናስታውስሃለን!

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የኦሮሞ ማህበረሰብ ለሩፋኤል ተሠማ ቤተሰቦች፣ በተለይም ለሚስቱ እና ለመንታ ሴት ልጆቹ ፌነት እና ፌናን ጥልቅ ሐዘኑን ይገልጻል። ዋቃዮ በዚህ የኪሳራ ወቅት ጥንካሬን ይስጣቸው እና በማህበረሰብ ድጋፍ ይከበቧቸው።

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Thousands gather at sacred highlands to give thanks to Waaqayyo as the annual Irreecha Arfaasaa festival brings together Oromo communities in a vibrant display of culture, faith, and resilience.

TULLUU CUQQAALAA, OROMIA — The annual Irreecha Arfaasaa celebration at Tulluu Cuqqaalaa has been marked by joyous gatherings, colorful traditional attire, and heartfelt prayers as the Oromo community came together to give thanks to the Creator.

The festival, observed with beauty and reverence in locations where large numbers of people congregated, stands as a testament to the enduring strength of Oromo culture and the unbreakable spirit of a people who continue to celebrate their identity despite challenges.

A Festival of Thanksgiving

Irreecha, the Oromo thanksgiving festival, marks the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the new year. It is a time when the Oromo people gather at bodies of water—lakes, rivers, and springs—to offer gratitude to Waaqayyo (God) for the blessings of creation and to pray for peace, prosperity, and unity in the year ahead.

This year’s celebration at Tulluu Cuqqaalaa carried particular significance. Despite various challenges, the community gathered in large numbers, dressed in traditional attire, carrying green grasses and flowers as symbols of peace and abundance. The atmosphere was one of joy, reverence, and collective affirmation of Oromo identity.

The Beauty of Cultural Observance

The celebration was marked by:

• Traditional Attire: Participants adorned themselves in the vibrant colors and intricate patterns of Oromo cultural clothing, transforming the gathering into a living canvas of heritage.
• Songs and Poetry: The air filled with traditional songs, geerarsa (poetic chants), and prayers that have been passed down through generations.
• Unity Across Differences: Oromos from various regions, backgrounds, and walks of life stood together as equals before their Creator, demonstrating the unifying power of shared culture.
• Blessings and Prayers: Elders offered blessings to the gathered community, praying for peace, fertility, and prosperity in the coming year.

A Prayer for the Future

The celebration concluded with a collective prayer that echoes in the hearts of all who attended: “Galanni kan uumaati, kan bara dhufuutiin nu ha gahe!” — “Thanksgiving belongs to the Creator; may we reach it again in the coming year!”

This prayer reflects the deep Oromo understanding that life itself is a gift, that each year we are granted to celebrate is a blessing, and that hope for the future is inseparable from gratitude for the past.

Significance of Tulluu Cuqqaalaa

Tulluu Cuqqaalaa holds special significance in the Oromo spiritual landscape. The highland setting, closer to the heavens, provides a fitting backdrop for prayers that rise toward Waaqayyo. The cool breeze carries the voices of the faithful, mingling with the rustle of grass and the songs of birds—all of creation joining in the thanksgiving.

For the Oromo people, Tulluu Cuqqaalaa is more than a location—it is a living presence, a witness to generations of prayer, a container of collective memory, and a symbol of the enduring bond between the people and the land that Waaqayyo gave them.

Community Response

The successful celebration has been met with widespread joy and satisfaction across Oromo communities, both in the homeland and throughout the diaspora. Social media has been filled with images and videos from the gathering, with participants expressing their gratitude for the opportunity to celebrate freely and peacefully.

One attendee shared: “Irreecha Tulluu Cuqqaalaa Arfaasaa milkoofnera. Galanni kan uumaati, kan bara dhufuutiin nu ha gahe!” — “We have successfully celebrated the Arfaasaa Irreecha at Tulluu Cuqqaalaa. Thanksgiving belongs to the Creator; may we reach it again in the coming year!”

This sentiment echoes across the community, reflecting the deep joy and spiritual fulfillment that comes from collective celebration of shared identity.

Looking Forward

As the celebration concludes and participants return to their homes and communities, they carry with them the blessings of the sacred site, the strength of the community, and the assurance that Waaqayyo hears their prayers. They carry, too, the knowledge that they are part of something larger than themselves—a people with a history stretching back centuries and a future reaching toward horizons they may not live to see.

The Irreecha Tulluu Cuqqaalaa celebration marks not an end but a continuation. The prayers offered this week will sustain the community through the seasons ahead. The bonds renewed at the sacred site will hold through challenges yet unknown. The identity affirmed in the gathering will be carried back to homes and communities across Oromia and the diaspora.

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A Blessing for All

As the Oromo people celebrate Irreecha, they extend their blessings to all humanity. The festival’s core message—gratitude, peace, and unity—transcends cultural boundaries and speaks to universal human aspirations.

May the spirit of Irreecha—of thanksgiving, of hope, of unity—touch all hearts. May the coming year bring peace to Oromia and to the world. And may the Oromo people continue to gather, to celebrate, and to give thanks until the day when all can celebrate freely in a homeland at peace.

Galanni kan uumaati, kan bara dhufuutiin nu ha gahu 🙏✨

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Irreecha #TulluuCuqqaalaa #Oromo #Thanksgiving #Culture #Unity #Peace #Waaqayyo #Oromia #IrreechaArfaasaa #Gratitude #Tradition

A dedicated fighter for Oromo liberation, Ruphael’s journey took him from the battlefields of Wallagga to exile in Australia, where he continued to serve his people until illness claimed him.

The Oromo community mourns the loss of one of its dedicated sons, Ruphael Tasammaa, who passed away after a battle with illness, leaving behind a legacy of unwavering commitment to the struggle for Oromo liberation. His life story—spanning continents, encompassing both armed resistance and peaceful advocacy, and marked by profound personal sacrifice—embodies the journey of an entire generation of Oromo fighters.

Early Years: Born into Struggle

Ruphael was born in 1975 in Dambi Dollo, a town in Qellem Wallagga. His entry into the world was marked by tragedy: his mother passed away moments after giving birth to him at Dambi Dollo Hospital, never leaving the facility alive. At that critical moment, the hospital’s director—an American named Dr. Dorombos—and his wife, Missis Dorombo, stepped forward to raise Ruphael as their own child.

This act of cultural compassion saved Ruphael’s life and provided him with stability in his earliest years. He began his primary education in Dambi Dollo, laying the foundation for learning that would later serve him in unexpected ways.

When Dr. Dorombos was transferred from Dambi Dollo to Aira Hospital in western Wallagga, young Ruphael moved with his adoptive parents. He completed his primary education in Aira and began his secondary schooling there, absorbing not only academic knowledge but also the values of compassion and service modeled by the American couple who had taken him in.

Answering the Call: Joining the Liberation Struggle

In 1992, at the age of 17, Ruphael made a decision that would shape the rest of his life: he interrupted his secondary education to join the Oromo liberation struggle. This was not a choice made lightly. It meant leaving behind the relative stability of his life with the Dorombos family, abandoning his education, and embracing the uncertainty and danger of armed resistance.

Ruphael became a member of the Oromo Liberation Front (Adda Bilisummaa Oromoo), moving through various regions of western Wallagga and Qellem Wallagga as he participated in the armed struggle. These were years of constant movement, of living in the forest, of facing the enemy directly while carrying the hopes of his people.

Exile and Imprisonment

In 1992, following internal challenges within the OLF that led to its withdrawal from the transitional government, Ruphael found himself hunted by government forces in Qellem Wallagga and western Wallagga. He was forced to flee to Finfinne (Addis Ababa), living as an internally displaced person within his own country.

Despite his efforts to remain hidden, he was eventually captured by government forces and imprisoned at Deppo Prison in the city of Adaama. He spent a significant portion of his life behind bars, experiencing firsthand the brutality of a system determined to crush Oromo resistance.

After his release from prison, Ruphael was forced into exile. He first fled to neighboring Djibouti, then later to Kenya, where he spent several years living as a refugee. These years of exile—separated from his homeland, uncertain of his future, yet never abandoning his commitment to the cause—testified to his resilience.

Building a New Life in Australia

In December 2001, Ruphael was granted refugee status and resettled in Australia. For 25 years, he built a life in his new homeland while never forgetting the struggle he had left behind.

He worked as an Allied Health Assistant in various hospitals across Australia, dedicating 15 of those years to St. Vincent’s Hospital. Through his work, he continued the legacy of service modeled by his adoptive parents—caring for the sick, supporting the vulnerable, contributing to the community that had welcomed him.

In September 2025, illness forced him to stop working. After a lifetime of giving—to the struggle, to his community, to his patients—his body could no longer sustain the demands he placed upon it.

Family and Personal Life

In 2013, Ruphael married and built a life. From this union, he was blessed with twin daughters, Fenet and Fenan, born in 2016. They were the light of his life—the future generation for whom all his sacrifices had meaning.

Though his time with them was cut short, he leaves behind a legacy of courage and commitment that will guide them throughout their lives. They will grow up knowing that their father was a fighter, a survivor, a man who gave everything for his people.

A Lifetime of Contribution

Throughout his entire life, Ruphael’s contributions to the Oromo liberation struggle were immense. Even after leaving the battlefield, even after resettling in Australia, he continued to support the cause with body and soul. Until illness weakened him, he remained actively involved, giving tirelessly of himself for the freedom of his people.

His life exemplified the reality that the struggle for Oromo liberation is not confined to the forests of Wallagga or the prisons of Ethiopia—it extends to every corner of the diaspora, wherever Oromos gather and work for the freedom of their homeland.

Community Mourns

Ruphael’s passing leaves a void in his family, among his relatives and friends, and throughout the Oromo community. Those who knew him remember not only his political commitment but his personal warmth—his willingness to help, his steady presence, his unwavering belief in the cause.

As the community mourns, we pray for strength for his family: his wife, his twin daughters Fenet and Fenan, his relatives, and all who loved him. May Waaqayyo grant them the fortitude to bear this loss and the comfort of knowing that Ruphael lived a life of purpose and meaning.

Final Rest

“Lubbuun isaas jannata bara baraa keessa haa bogotu.” — May his soul rest in eternal paradise.

Ruphael Tasammaa’s journey is complete. From his tragic birth in a Dambi Dollo hospital, through years of armed struggle, imprisonment, exile, and finally refuge in Australia, he carried always the flame of Oromo liberation. He gave everything—his youth, his freedom, his comfort, his health—for the cause he believed in.

Now he rests. Now he is free from pain, from struggle, from the weariness of a life fully given. And those who remain—his family, his community, his people—carry forward the struggle he believed in, strengthened by his example, inspired by his sacrifice.

Goota, nagaan boqodhu! Kabajaan si yaadanna!

Hero, rest in peace! We remember you with honor!

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The Oromo community extends deepest condolences to the family of Ruphael Tasammaa, particularly his wife and twin daughters Fenet and Fenan. May Waaqayyo grant them strength and surround them with community support in this time of loss.