Remembering the Ebli 15 Martyrs of the Shinnigga Pit

(SHINNIGGA, Ethiopia) – In the chronicles of a people’s struggle for freedom, certain dates become etched not in ink, but in bone. For the Oromo people, one such date is **Ebli 15, 1980** (roughly late April in the Gregorian calendar). On that single, terrible day, the soil of Shinnigga drank a blood cocktail of revolutionary courage, religious tolerance, and unbreakable unity.

This is not merely a story of death. It is a story of how ten men—commanders and fighters of the Oromo liberation struggle—faced a common grave and refused to let their faith divide them.

They were the sons of *Oromiyaa hadhaa dhiigaa fi lafee isaaniin ijaaran*—Oromia built by their blood and bones. They were warriors of the *Adda Bilisummaa Oromoo* (Oromo Liberation Front), leaders who had carried the weight of the struggle during its darkest hours. Among them were legendary figures like Hayyuu-Duree Jaal Magarsaa Barii (Barisoo Waabee) and his deputy, Itti Aanaa Jaal Gadaa Gammadaa (Damisee Tacaanee).

But when the end came, they were not just commanders. They were brothers.

The Trap at Shinnigga

By 1980, the Oromo liberation army had become a thorn in the side of the Derg regime. The fighters, seasoned by the harsh terrains of Waabe and the strategic depth of the *Dirree Qabsoo Hidhannoo*, were pushing toward a new phase of the armed struggle. But war is also a game of betrayal.

While on a critical mission, a group of ten key figures—including the intellectual giants and tactical minds of the movement—were ambushed. Somali *Shifta* militia, operating as proxies for the regime, surrounded them near the rugged lowlands of Shinnigga. Outnumbered and cut off from reinforcements, the Oromo fighters fought to their last bullet.

They were not killed in the heat of battle.

They were captured alive.

The Pit

The militia dug a single, wide pit. It was not a grave for an individual. It was a mass tomb designed to swallow an ideology. The ten prisoners were forced to kneel at its edge. Their hands were bound. Their clothes were torn and stained with the dust of a long march.

According to survivors’ accounts passed down through the Oromo oral tradition, the *Shifta* executioners tried one final trick. They separated the prisoners by their names—some Muslim, some Christian, some following the *Waaqeffannaa* tradition of their ancestors.

“You see,” a commander allegedly said to the prisoners in a low, mocking voice. “You fought together. But you will die apart. Let each man pray to his own god before we throw him in.”

The executioners expected fear. They expected a scramble for last rites—a final, petty division to prove that the Oromo cause was a fragile lie.

They were wrong.

‘We Are One Name’

Jaal Magarsaa Barii, the senior commander, looked at his men. There was Jaal Abbaa Xiiqii (Abboomaa Mitikku), the strategist. Jaal Doorii Barii (Yiggazuu Bantii), the fearless cavalry leader. Jaal Faafam Dooyyoo, whose voice had rallied thousands. Falmataa (Umar/Caccabsaa), whose faith was as steadfast as his rifle. Jaal Irra’anaa Qacalee (Dhinsaa), Jaal Dhaddachoo Boruu, Jaal Dhaddachoo Mul’ataa, and the youngest, Jaal Marii Galaan.

Ten men. Ten names. One nation.

Without a word, they stood up. Jaal Magarsaa did not ask for a Christian priest. Jaal Gadaa did not ask for a *sheikh*. Falmataa did not turn his back on the others. Instead, they linked their arms—bound as they were—and stepped forward together.

“*Maqaa amantaan gargar hin baanu*,” Jaal Magarsaa declared. “We do not divide names by religion. Dig the pit wider or throw us in together. We are Oromo first.”

According to legend, Jaal Gadaa Gammadaa, the deputy, turned to the executioner and smiled. “You want to see us pray? Watch this.”

And together, the ten men—Muslim, Christian, and Waaqeffataa—intoned a single prayer. Not to Mecca. Not to the Cross. But to *Waaqa Oromoo*, the God of their land, who had seen their mothers’ tears and their fathers’ bones scattered across the highlands.

The executioners, unnerved, shoved them into the pit.

They fell as one. They died as one.

The Legacy of Ebli 15

Forty-six years have passed. The Shinnigga pit has long since been covered, but no grass grows there without a story attached. In Oromia today, the names of those ten men are whispered in schools, sung in protest songs, and invoked in political meetings.

They are called the *Ebli 15 Wareegamtoota*—the martyrs of Ebli 15.

They did not die for a flag or a single faith. They died for an idea: that an Oromo is an Oromo, whether they pray in a church, a mosque, under a tree, or in silence.

Jaal Marii Galaan, the youngest of the ten, was just 19 years old. Before he was pushed into the pit, he reportedly looked at the sky—the wide, unforgiving sky of Shinnigga—and shouted:

“*Oromiyaan hin duutu!* Oromia will not die!”

It hasn’t. And every Ebli 15, when the Oromo people gather to remember, they do not mourn ten separate men. They mourn one collective heart that beat for freedom until the dirt filled their mouths.

And in that final, defiant act of unity, they won a victory the pit could never bury.

In the dense forests and rugged terrain of western Oromia, a band of liberation fighters once gathered under the cover of darkness. Their mission was audacious. Their fate was sealed. And their memory now echoes across generations every April 15.

The year was 1980. The Ethiopian Derg regime, led by Mengistu Haile Mariam, was at the height of its brutal military rule. Armed resistance had become the only language the regime understood. And the Oromo Liberation Front (ABO) was preparing to expand its armed struggle into a new theater: the Western Front.

A Mission Born in the Shadows

It began with a leadership change. On April 15, 1980, the ABO appointed a new chairman in Shinnigga. One year later, the leadership that would command the Western Front—mirroring that Shinnigga structure—was installed. The goal was clear: launch an armed resistance in the West.

The ABO’s new commanders meticulously planned their next move. They sent 12 batches of fighters to Eritrea for military training. After completing their preparations, 17 fighters were dispatched to the Western Zone to begin operations.

These were not faceless soldiers. They were fathers, brothers, and sons. Their names would eventually be carved into Oromia’s collective memory:

· Daawud Ibsaa — Battalion Commander

· Abbaa Caalaa Lataa — Deputy Battalion Commander

· Jaal Tottoobaa Waaqwayyaa — Squad Leader

· Jaal Birruu Taasisaa (Gabbisaa)

· Jaal Caalaa Ulmaanaa (Kormee Dinqaa)

· Jaal Taarreqanyi Ayyaanaa (Waaqgaarii)

· Jaal Abdallaa Raggaasaa

· Jaal Suleemaan Raggaasaa

· Jaal Waaqoo Guyyoo (Abbaa Gadaa)

· Jaal Abdulra’uuf

· Jaal Miijanaa Yandoo

· Jaal Adam Amaan

· Jaal Saanii Abdullaahi (Kerkedee)

· Jaal Yohaannis Dinqaa (Wayyeessaa)

· Jaal Kabbadaa Fufaa (Gambel)

· Jaal Taaddalaa Makuriyaa (Bayyanaa)

· Jaal Abduqqee (Habbuuqaa)

These 17 commanders were sent to ignite the Western Front resistance. But the Derg regime had no intention of allowing the ABO to take root. A fierce counterinsurgency campaign was already underway, designed to crush the liberation movement at its foundation.

The Work Before the War

Before bullets could fly, the commanders focused on what would make the struggle sustainable: mobilizing communities, building infrastructure, and educating the people. They recruited new members. They strengthened the resistance. They worked in the shadows, knowing that discovery meant death.

It was during this organizing phase that the leadership made a strategic decision. Commander Daawud Ibsaa and his deputy, Abbaa Caalaa Lataa, along with a man named Taaddasaa Shorroo and one other, divided their forces into two groups. One group, loyal to Daawud Ibsaa, headed toward Gidaami. The other, following Abbaa Caalaa Lataa, moved toward Begi.

On December 21, 1981, the two groups agreed to return to their base and reunite. They planned to share intelligence and coordinate their next moves. But the reunion would never happen as intended.

The Poisoned Reunion

The two groups did not return in triumph.

The faction led by Daawud Ibsaa headed toward Gidaami, in the village of Giraayii Sonkaa. On December 23, 1981, they received an order from Nugusee Faantaa, then the security chief of Wallagga Zone, in coordination with Zakariyaas Shorroo, Dirribaa Moggaa, and Hiikaa Masaadii—the administrator of Gidaami district at the time.

The orders were chilling: the fighters were to be poisoned.

But not through open combat. The betrayal came from within. Zakariyaas Shorroo, whose own brother Taaddasaa Shorroo was among the fighters, became the instrument of the regime. He provided the poison that would kill his own kin.

Eight ABO commanders ingested the poison prepared by the Derg regime. Among them were:

· Jaal Daawud Ibsaa

· Jaal Tottoobaa Waaqwayyaa

· Jaal Hinsarmuu

· Jaal Adam Amaan

· Jaal Yohaannis Dinqaa

· Jaal Suleemaan Raggaasaa

· Jaal Shaanqoo

· Jaal Taaddasaa Shorroo

They died in the same place, their bodies falling together. A brother had handed poison to his brother. The regime’s strategy of divide and rule had found its most devastating expression.

A Slow Death in Captivity

Jaal Daawud Ibsaa did not die immediately. Severely weakened by the poison, he was captured alive by Derg forces and taken to Dambi Dollo Hospital. From there, he was transferred to Maikelawi Prison and other detention centers, where he endured a slow, agonizing decline. He eventually suffered in custody—a martyr twice over, first by poison and then by neglect.

The ABO had lost eight of its most promising commanders in a single stroke. The Western Front resistance, still in its infancy, suffered a blow from which it would take years to recover.

Remembering the Fallen

For one year, the surviving ABO leadership grappled with the loss. The struggle continued, but the wound was deep. The Derg regime, along with collaborators like Ziyaad Barree, intensified its campaign. Blood and bone were spilled across Oromia. Heroes were buried in unmarked graves.

Then, in 1984, the remaining ABO leaders convened. They made a decision. Beginning in 1985, April 15—the date of the Shinnigga leadership appointment in 1980—would be permanently commemorated as Oromo Martyrs’ Day. Article 56, subsection 2 of the ABO constitution formally recognized it as one of the organization’s official holidays.

Since 1985, April 15 has been observed in the forests of Oromia and in the diaspora. Inside Oromia, ABO members commemorate the day in secret, risking arrest or death. Outside, in refugee camps and community centers across Europe, North America, and Australia, Oromos gather openly to honor those who fell.

Today: A People’s Memorial

Today, the Oromo people remember April 15 as Guyyaa Gootota Oromoo—Oromo Martyrs’ Day. It is a day to honor not only the 17 commanders of the Western Front but all those who have fallen in the struggle for Oromo liberation.

The names of the Western Front martyrs are recited in poems and songs. Their faces appear on banners at diaspora protests. Their story is taught to Oromo children growing up far from the forests where their fathers died.

“April 15 is the day we remember all the martyrs of the Oromo liberation struggle,” one elder in the Oromo community explains. “The commanders who were poisoned. The fighters who fell in battle. The civilians killed in their villages. We remember them all on this day.”

The Western Front mission of 1980-81 ultimately failed to achieve its immediate military objectives. The resistance there was crushed. The commanders were killed or captured. But the memory of their sacrifice outlived the regime that murdered them.

Mengistu Haile Mariam fled to Zimbabwe in 1991. The Derg is gone. But the names of Daawud Ibsaa, Taaddasaa Shorroo, and their comrades remain. Every April 15, the Oromo people prove that while regimes can poison bodies, they cannot poison history.

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This feature article is dedicated to the 17 commanders of the Western Front and to all Oromo martyrs who gave their lives for the liberation of their people. April 15 — Guyyaa Gootota Oromoo.

Irreecha Arfaasaa (the spring thanksgiving festival) being celebrated on April 26, 2026, at Tulluu Dandenong (likely a reference to the Dandenong Ranges in Victoria, Australia). This appears to be a diaspora celebration organized by the Oromo community in Melbourne, and Oromo Irrecha Association.

A Celebration of Heritage: Melbourne’s Oromo Community Marks Third Annual Oromtittii Day with Joy and Warmth

Melbourne, Australia – The Oromo community in Melbourne has once again demonstrated its rich cultural pride, celebrating Oromtittii Day (Oromo Mothers’ Day) for the third time in a vibrant ceremony held today. The event, which took place in a setting filled with warmth and beauty, was distinguished by a strong sense of family, with elders and children gathering together to honor the occasion.

This year’s celebration was dedicated to elevating the respect and recognition deserving of mothers. Attendees described the event as a heartwarming success, noting that the third annual commemoration brought immense joy to all who participated.

Organizers have already set their sights on the future, with plans to expand the event further. “We are already planning to make next year’s celebration even warmer and more inclusive than this one,” a member of the organizing committee shared.

“Our goal is to deepen community involvement and elevate this tradition.”

Community leaders extended their gratitude to all who participated, stating, “We thank our community members who came together to be part of this.”

The inaugural Oromtittii Day in Melbourne was first celebrated in 2024, and today’s event marks a continued commitment to honoring Oromo heritage and the pivotal role of mothers within the community.

By Our Staff Reporter

As the sacred season approaches, anticipation is building across Oromia and beyond. The annual Irreechaa Arfaasaa—the Thanksgiving festival of the Oromo people—is set to be celebrated with unparalleled splendor at the historic site of Tulluu Hora Ayeetuu.

According to an announcement from the Galmi Duudhaa Ganamaa Walisoo Liiban, preparations for the occasion have entered their final phase. The festival, which marks the transition from the rainy season to the bright days of peace and harvest, is scheduled to take place in a manner befitting its profound cultural and spiritual significance.

A Sacred Gathering

Irreechaa is more than a festival; it is the spiritual heartbeat of the Oromo nation. Celebrated twice a year, Irreechaa Arfaasaa (the spring thanksgiving) is a moment when millions gather at sacred lakes and hills to offer gratitude to Waaqaa (God) for life, health, and the blessings of renewal.

This year, all eyes are on Tulluu Hora Ayeetuu, a site revered for its deep historical and spiritual roots. The location holds special significance as a center of Oromo cultural identity, where generations have gathered to raise their hands in prayer and solidarity.

Final Preparations Underway

In a statement released to the public, organizers from Galmi Duudhaa Ganamaa Walisoo Liiban confirmed that all necessary arrangements are nearing completion. The celebration is being planned as a “warm and beautiful ceremony” —a phrase that reflects the commitment to ensuring both dignity and joy for the multitudes expected to attend.

Logistical preparations include:

• Site organization and safety measures at Tulluu Hora Ayeetuu
• Coordination of traditional protocols led by cultural elders
• Arrangements for attendees traveling from across Oromia and the diaspora

A Call to the Oromo People

The message from the organizing body carries a tone of both invitation and affirmation. Speaking on behalf of the community, the leadership emphasized that the celebration is not merely an event but a reaffirmation of identity. As stated in their communication:

“Ayyaanni Abdii fi Hawwiin eegamu, kan Lafaa fi Nafa Oromoof gabbinaa.”
(A festival where hope and aspiration are upheld—a thanksgiving for the land and soul of Oromoo.)

Significance of the Date

Irreechaa Arfaasaa will be observed according to the traditional Oromo calendar. While the exact date aligns with Bitootessa 27 / 7 / 2018 E.C. (which corresponds to approximately late March / early April in the Gregorian calendar), the spiritual resonance transcends the calendar itself. It is a time of unity, reflection, and collective renewal.

Looking Ahead

As the final preparations are completed, the message from Galmi Duudhaa Ganamaa Walisoo Liiban serves as both a confirmation of readiness and a call to the Oromo people worldwide to embrace the season with pride and reverence.

In a time when cultural preservation carries profound political and social weight, the gathering at Tulluu Hora Ayeetuu stands as a powerful testament to the resilience of Oromo traditions. The anticipation of warmth, beauty, and spiritual elevation suggests that this year’s Irreechaa will be remembered as a moment of unity and hope.

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For further updates on logistics and participation, the public is advised to follow official communications from the organizing committee.

For generations, the Oromo people have relied on an institution that predates modern legal systems—the traditional courts (Manneen Murtii Aadaa)—to resolve disputes, maintain harmony, and preserve the social fabric of their communities.

These customary courts, rooted in the rich cultural heritage and values of the Oromo people, play an indispensable role in maintaining community peace by resolving disputes through frameworks grounded in tradition and cultural wisdom. Whether addressing family conflicts, neighborly disagreements, or broader community tensions, these institutions offer reconciliation and dialogue-based solutions that heal rather than divide.

Justice Rooted in Culture

The Manneen Murtii Aadaa operate on principles fundamentally different from formal court systems. Rather than adversarial proceedings that produce winners and losers, traditional courts emphasize reconciliation, restoration of relationships, and community harmony. The goal is not punishment but healing—not victory but peace.

This approach reflects deep Oromo values embedded in the culture for centuries. The famous Oromo saying “Nageenyi badhaadhummaadha” (Peace is wealth) captures the understanding that without harmony, material prosperity means nothing. Traditional courts exist to protect this most precious wealth.

Efficiency and Accessibility

One of the most significant advantages of traditional courts is their accessibility. Community members can bring disputes before elders without the burden of excessive time and cost that often characterizes formal legal proceedings. A matter that might take months or years in the formal court system can often be resolved in days through traditional mechanisms.

This efficiency preserves community relationships that might otherwise be destroyed by prolonged conflict. When neighbors or family members can resolve their differences quickly and return to normal life, the entire community benefits.

The Wisdom of Elders

Central to the functioning of traditional courts is the involvement of Jaarsolii Biyyaa—community elders whose wisdom, accumulated over lifetimes, guides the resolution process. These elders carry within them the knowledge of generations, understanding not only the specific dispute before them but the broader context of community relationships and history.

By involving elders, traditional courts ensure that the cultural knowledge and values passed down through generations are preserved and applied. Young people who participate in these processes learn not only about the specific dispute but about the deeper values that hold their community together.

A Bridge Between Past and Future

The continued operation of Manneen Murtii Aadaa represents more than a practical mechanism for dispute resolution—it is a living connection to Oromo heritage. In a world of rapid change and external pressures, these institutions maintain continuity with the wisdom of ancestors while adapting to contemporary needs.

They demonstrate that tradition is not static but dynamic—capable of addressing modern challenges while remaining grounded in enduring values. The elders who preside over these courts carry forward a torch lit by those who came before, ensuring that future generations will inherit not only problems but the tools to solve them.

Strengthening Peace and Unity

Perhaps most importantly, traditional courts actively strengthen peace, consensus, and unity within communities. By resolving disputes through dialogue rather than confrontation, they model the very harmony they seek to create. The process itself—requiring disputing parties to sit together, listen to elders, and work toward mutual understanding—builds the skills and relationships necessary for long-term community cohesion.

When a dispute is resolved through Manneen Murtii Aadaa, the resolution carries moral weight that formal court judgments often lack. Because the community has participated in the process and the elders have spoken, the outcome is accepted not because it is enforced but because it is recognized as just.

A Living Tradition

The photographs accompanying this feature offer glimpses into actual traditional court proceedings across Oromia. They show elders gathered under trees, community members seated in circles, the informal but deeply structured processes that have resolved disputes for centuries. These are not museum pieces but living institutions, actively shaping community life today.

Each image captures a moment in the ongoing work of peace—elders listening, disputants speaking, community members observing, and together weaving the fabric of social harmony that makes community life possible.

Conclusion

Manneen Murtii Aadaa represent one of the Oromo people’s most valuable institutions—a culturally grounded system of justice that preserves peace, strengthens unity, and maintains connection to ancestral wisdom. In a world often dominated by impersonal formal systems, these traditional courts offer a model of justice that is close to the people, rooted in community, and focused on healing rather than punishment.

As Oromia continues to navigate the challenges of the present and build toward the future, these institutions remain essential. They remind us that justice is not only about laws and procedures but about relationships and reconciliation—not only about rights but about harmony.

By strengthening Manneen Murtii Aadaa, communities strengthen themselves. By honoring the wisdom of elders, they ensure that future generations will inherit not only problems but the tools to solve them. By resolving disputes through dialogue and consensus, they build the peace that is, as the ancestors knew, the truest wealth.

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The images above show a selection of traditional court proceedings from various parts of Oromia, capturing the living tradition of community-based justice. 🤝

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