What is the Oromo liberation struggle, and how is it being waged?

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I. Introduction: A Struggle Defined

The phrase Qabsoo Bilisummaa Oromoo translates from the Oromo language as the “Oromo Liberation Struggle.” At its core, it represents the decades-long political and armed movement by the Oromo people—Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group, comprising approximately a third of the nation’s nearly 130 million people—to achieve self-determination and freedom from what they characterize as internal colonization by successive Ethiopian regimes.

This is not a single organization or a monolithic movement. Rather, Qabsoo Bilisummaa Oromoo encompasses a complex ecosystem of political parties, armed groups, youth movements, diaspora activism, and cultural resistance, all united by a common aspiration: the liberation of the Oromo people and their ancestral homeland, Oromia.

“Qabsoo dhaabatu hin jalqabne, akeeka ijaarameef hamma galmaan ga’uttis hin dhaabatu.”

— Dawud Ibsa Ayana, Chairman of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), declaring in June 2025 that “the struggle we started will not stop until the goal we have set is achieved.”

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II. Historical Roots: The Genesis of a Movement

The modern Oromo liberation struggle traces its origins to the early 1970s, a period of political awakening among Oromo nationalists who sought to challenge what they viewed as “Abyssinian colonial rule” over the Oromo people.

The Founding of the OLF

In 1973, a clandestine group of Oromo nationalists from diverse backgrounds, brought together by figures like Baro Tumsa, established the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF)—known in Oromo as Adda Bilisummaa Oromoo (ABO). The OLF was founded to promote self-determination and independence for the Oromo people inhabiting what is today the Oromia Region and the Oromia Zone in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia.

The OLF’s ideological premise was that the Oromo were subject to internal colonization by the Ethiopian state, and its ultimate goal was secession from Ethiopia and the establishment of a sovereign Oromo nation.

The Armed Wing Emerges

By 1974, the OLF had formed its military wing, the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA)—Waraana Bilisummaa Oromoo (WBO) in Oromo. The armed struggle began in Eastern Oromia, marking the start of a military campaign that would continue, with varying intensity, for decades.

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III. The Actors: Who Fights for Freedom?

The Qabsoo Bilisummaa Oromoo is waged through multiple channels and by various actors, each with distinct methods and roles.

1. The Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) – Political Vanguard

The OLF remains the primary political organization representing the liberation struggle. After spending 27 years in exile, the OLF returned to Ethiopia in 2018 following a peace agreement with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government, committing to pursue its goals through peaceful political means.

However, the party has faced significant obstacles. In a November 2025 position statement, the OLF declared that “the current regime has deliberately closed the political arena and obstructed the lawful activities of the Oromo Liberation Front”. The party reported that its regional offices had been closed, its leaders arrested, and its members prevented from engaging with constituents.

Despite these challenges, the OLF continues to operate, maintaining offices in Addis Ababa, Washington D.C., and Berlin, from which it broadcasts radio programs in both Amharic and Oromo.

2. The Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) – Armed Resistance

The OLA is the armed opposition group active in the Oromia Region. It consists primarily of former armed members of the OLF who refused to disarm following the 2018 peace deal, skeptical of the government’s intentions, alongside former youth protesters who became disillusioned with nonviolent resistance.

Today, the OLA operates under the name OLF-OLA (or ABO-WBO in Oromo). While the Ethiopian government considers the OLF a legal political party, it has designated the OLA as a terrorist organization.

The armed conflict has exacted a devastating toll on civilians. Amnesty International reported in March 2026 that OLA fighters had subjected women and girls to sexual violence including rape, gang rape, sexual slavery, summary killings, and destruction of civilian property, acts that may amount to war crimes. Government forces have also been accused of systematic abuses, including extrajudicial killings and forced displacement.

3. Qeerroo – The Youth Movement

Perhaps the most dynamic force in recent years has been the Qeerroo—a youth movement that has emerged as a powerful voice for change. In traditional Oromo culture, the term means “bachelor” or “youth,” but within the political movement, it symbolizes the Oromo struggle for increased political freedom and greater ethnic representation.

The BBC has described Qeerroo as “Ethiopia’s National Youth Movement for Freedom and Democracy,” which calls itself Qeerroo Bilisummaa Oromoo. The movement first emerged in 1991 but gained prominence through the 2016 Oromo protests and again in July 2020 following the assassination of Oromo singer Hacaaluu Hundeessaa.

4. The Diaspora – Global Advocacy

The Oromo diaspora has become an increasingly visible force in the liberation struggle. In September 2020, Oromo women marched through the streets of Berlin, Germany, demanding recognition for their struggle. These protests, called Hiriira in the Oromo language, highlight the transnational nature of the movement and its ability to garner international attention.

As one diaspora organizer put it, the goal is to ensure that “deeggarsii fi tumsi qabsoo bilisummaa akka itti fufiinsa argatu”—that “support and sustenance for the freedom struggle continues to receive continuity.”

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IV. How the Struggle is Waged: Methods and Tactics

The Qabsoo Bilisummaa Oromoo employs a multifaceted approach to achieve its objectives.

Armed Conflict

The OLA continues to engage in armed confrontations with Ethiopian government forces across Oromia. Clashes have been reported in various zones, including East Wollega, West Wollega, and Kellem Wollega. In August 2025, the OLA orchestrated a prison break in Gida Ayana, freeing over 150 inmates.

However, the armed struggle has not been without controversy. The OLA has been accused of attacking civilians, including a June 2025 attack that killed three civilians in the Arsi zone. Government forces have also been implicated in civilian deaths, with one mother telling Addis Standard that government soldiers fatally shot her toddler in July 2025.

Political Advocacy

The OLF pursues its goals through political channels, participating in elections and issuing statements condemning government actions. In the 2026 elections, the OLF fielded 163 candidates for federal parliament and regional councils. The party has also called for an independent international investigation into killings committed against the Oromo people.

Youth Mobilization and Protests

The Qeerroo movement has mobilized thousands of young Oromos through protests and demonstrations. These protests have sometimes turned violent, with clashes between protesters and security forces. The youth have also used social media and digital platforms as alternative communication channels and sites of political resistance.

Cultural Resistance

The struggle is also waged through cultural expression. Oromo protest songs have served as “weapons of resistance against domination” since the 1960s. The annual Irreecha thanksgiving festival has become a platform for political expression, with attendees using the occasion to hold anti-government protests.

Territorial Claims

The OLF has consistently defended the territorial integrity of Oromia. In July 2025, the party condemned the Somali regional government’s actions as “a blatant attempt to claim Oromo land,” calling it “a declaration of war”. In its November 2025 position statement, the OLF declared that “the territorial integrity of Oromia is non-negotiable”.

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V. The Human Cost: A People in Crisis

The ongoing conflict has exacted a devastating toll on civilians.

Mass Displacement

Since July 2025, renewed inter-communal violence between Oromo and Somali communities along the regional border has displaced over 288,000 people. The violence has resulted in widespread fatalities and damage to infrastructure.

Humanitarian Crisis

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission has stated that the “right to life is in a critical condition” in the affected regions. Persistent violence has led to the breakdown of public services and the mass displacement of communities.

Political Repression

The OLF has accused the government of a “systematic campaign of torture,” employing tactics such as extrajudicial killings, forced displacement, and persecution. The party’s offices have been closed, and its leaders have been arrested.

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VI. The Future: An Unfinished Struggle

The Qabsoo Bilisummaa Oromoo shows no signs of abating. As Dawud Ibsa Ayana, the OLF chairman, declared in 2025: “The struggle we started will not stop until the goal we have set is achieved.”

Challenges Ahead

The movement faces significant challenges:

· Internal divisions: The split between the OLF (political wing) and the OLA (armed wing) has created organizational fragmentation.

· Government opposition: The Ethiopian government continues to view the armed struggle as a terrorist threat and has cracked down on political opposition.

· Humanitarian toll: The continued conflict has displaced hundreds of thousands and caused immense suffering.

· International scrutiny: Allegations of war crimes by both sides have drawn international attention.

A Persistent Hope

Despite these challenges, the movement persists. As one Oromo activist put it: “Addi Bilisummaa Oromoo… Qabsoo Itti Fufa. Bilisummaan Ni Dhufa.” — “The Oromo Liberation Front… The struggle continues. Freedom is coming.”

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VII. Conclusion: More Than a Struggle

The Qabsoo Bilisummaa Oromoo is more than a political or armed conflict. It is a movement rooted in a people’s desire for self-determination, dignity, and recognition. It encompasses the teenager protesting in the streets of Addis Ababa, the fighter in the mountains of Oromia, the exile in Berlin organizing a march, and the grandmother in a village dreaming of peace.

For nearly five decades, the Oromo people have pursued their liberation through political advocacy, armed resistance, youth mobilization, and cultural expression. The struggle has claimed countless lives, displaced hundreds of thousands, and left deep scars on Ethiopian society.

Yet, as the Oromo saying goes, “Bilisummaan Ni Dhufa”—Freedom is coming. Whether that freedom arrives through peaceful negotiation, political reform, or continued resistance remains the central question of Ethiopia’s most enduring conflict.

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“The Voice of Oromo Freedom: Strengthening the struggle, awakening the people, proclaiming the goal.”