By Daandii Ragabaa

The Oromo liberation movement has lost one of its most steadfast and loyal comrades. Jaal Tasfaayee Hordofaa, a veteran member of the Oromo Liberation Front (ABO) and a tireless advocate for his people, passed away on May 2, 2026, after succumbing to a prolonged illness. He was 70 years old.

Jaal Tasfaayee’s journey from the rural highlands of western Oromia to the diaspora politics of the United States is a story of unwavering commitment. Born in 1956 in the Horro Guduru Zone of western Oromia, he came of age during some of the most repressive decades in modern Ethiopian history. It was a time when speaking the Oromo language openly or asserting Oromo identity could invite severe punishment.

Yet, rather than be silenced, Tasfaayee chose the path of resistance.

Underground Roots and Unbroken Resolve

At the height of the Derg regime and later under the successive Ethiopian governments, Jaal Tasfaayee became an active member of the ABO (Oromo Liberation Front) inside the homeland. He operated within the clandestine underground structure of the movement in Oromia itself—a role that demanded immense courage, absolute secrecy, and a willingness to sacrifice everything.

Comrades who knew him describe a man of cichoomina (an anchor-like steadfastness). He was not a fair-weather revolutionary. Whether in the shadows of the underground or later, in the open political spaces of the diaspora, his loyalty to the cause of Oromo self-determination never wavered.

After relocating to North America, Jaal Tasfaayee did not retire from the struggle. Instead, he channeled his energy into the ABO Washington DC chapter. There, he became a pillar of the Oromo community, organizing, educating, and advocating until the very moment his body was overcome by the illness that eventually claimed him.

A Legacy of Fatherhood and Struggle

Beyond the politics, the family of Jaal Tasfaayee Hordofaa mourns a patriarch. He leaves behind a profound personal legacy: nine children and sixteen grandchildren. For those who knew him not just as a comrade but as a father, grandfather, and brother, the loss is deeply intimate.

His funeral was held on May 9, 2026, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Members of the Oromo community, fellow ABO leaders, friends, and family gathered to pay their final respects, to honor a life lived not for personal gain, but for collective liberation.

“The Fighter Falls, the Struggle Continues”

In the condolence announcement released by the ABO External Branch (Caaasaa ABO Biyya Alaa), the mood is one of solemn mourning mixed with defiant resolve. “For losing such a strong comrade, we express our grief,” the statement reads. “May his soul find eternal rest. We extend strength to his family, relatives, loved ones, and friends.”

And then, the uncompromising closing line that captures the spirit of the man they laid to rest: “Qabsaawaan ni kufa, qabsoon itti fufa!” (“The fighter may fall, but the struggle continues!”)

Jaal Tasfaayee Hordofaa has rested. He has concluded his earthly journey. But for those who carry the flag forward, his quiet courage, his underground years, and his diaspora leadership will remain a flame that refuses to die.

Rest in struggle, Jaal Tasfaayee Hordofaa (1956 – 2026).