Oromo Diaspora in the UK Rallies Against Human Rights Abuses in Oromia

Thousands gather in London to protest the Prosperity Party government’s actions, drawing parallels to the Derg era and demanding international intervention

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM — In a powerful display of solidarity and defiance, the Oromo diaspora community in the United Kingdom took to the streets of London on May 27, 2025, to denounce what they described as escalating human rights violations and systematic oppression perpetrated by the Prosperity Party government under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

Organizers described the protest as a urgent response to conditions in Oromia that have reached what demonstrators characterized as a critical threshold. The rally, which drew participants from across the UK, demanded immediate international action to halt the violence and protect Oromo civilians.

A Crisis at the Breaking Point

“Wayta ammaa kana dhiittaan mirga dhala namaa Oromiyaa fi guutuu biyyattii keessatti raawwatamaa jiru daangaa darbuu kan ibsan hiriirtotni, keesumaa haalli Oromiyaa keessaa yaaddessaa, dhimma cal’isanii ilaalanii bira darban akka hin taane sagalee isaaniin mirkaneessaniiru.”

Protest leaders emphasized that the current human rights situation in Oromia, and across Ethiopia, has surpassed acceptable boundaries. They warned that the crisis in Oromia has become so alarming that it can no longer be ignored or dismissed as a minor issue .

The Oromo people, who constitute approximately 35 percent of Ethiopia’s population, have long voiced grievances over political marginalization, economic exploitation, and cultural suppression. The recent escalation of military operations in Oromia has deepened these concerns, with protesters pointing to the emergence of what they describe as a deliberate campaign of displacement and violence.

Echoes of the Derg Era

“Mootummaan PP Dr.Abiy Ahmediin durfamu aangoo isaa jabeeffatuu fi iddoo hundatti lola geggeessu babal’isuuf, ilmaan hiyyeessaa waraanatti guuree ficcisiisuuf akkuma mootummaa abbaa irree Dargii dargaggoota Oromoo ari’ee qabuun mooraa leenjiitti guuree adda waraanaatti ergatuuf qopheessaa jiraachuu ibsuun, gocha abaaramaa mootummaa kana jabeessanii balaaleffataniiru.”

Protesters drew stark parallels between the current Prosperity Party government and the Derg regime of Mengistu Hailemariam (1974-1991). They accused the current administration of employing similar tactics: forcibly conscripting youth into the military, deploying them to war zones, and using them as cannon fodder in conflicts across the country .

The comparison resonated deeply with participants, many of whom have personal or family memories of the Derg’s brutal crackdown on Oromo communities. The Red Terror period, which saw systematic killings and disappearances of political opponents, remains seared into the collective memory of the Oromo people. The protesters argued that history is repeating itself, with the government leveraging violence to consolidate power.

The Human Toll

“Ummatni Oromoo mootummaa kana jalatti boqonnaa dhabee guyyuu akka baalaa gadi haamamaa jiraachuun kan ibsame yoo ta’u, duuti Oromoo fi Oromiyaa irraa akka dhaabatu gaafatan.”

Demonstrators painted a stark picture of life under the current government: the Oromo people, they said, have no peace and are living each day like leaves falling to the ground . The constant state of insecurity has made movement between places “almost impossible,” according to accounts from affected communities .

Reports from human rights organizations have documented extrajudicial killings, torture, abductions, and rape committed by both government forces and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) . A joint investigation by Reuters uncovered the operations of a clandestine Security Committee in Oromia that has allegedly ordered extra-judicial killings and illegal detentions as part of counterinsurgency efforts .

The impact on civilians has been devastating. Over 3.2 million children are reportedly out of school due to the fighting, and aid groups have struggled to distribute supplies, contributing to high malnutrition rates. In the Wollega district, nearly all health posts have been looted or damaged. Displacement has become widespread, with an estimated 88,000 individuals displaced by ethnic-based border conflicts in the Somali region alone.

A Call to Action

“Itti dabaluunis Oromoo qe’ee fi qabeenya isaa irraa sababa adda addaan buqqaasuun akka dhaabatu gaafataniiru.”

The protesters presented a series of demands to both the Ethiopian government and the international community:

  • An immediate halt to what they described as genocide and military operations across Ethiopia
  • The cessation of forced conscription of children into the military
  • The withdrawal of all forces from Oromia
  • An end to the unlawful seizure of Oromo land and property
  • The unconditional release of all political prisoners
  • The cases of murdered artists and activists, including Haacaaluu Hundeessaa and Battee Urgeessaa, and all other victims to be brought to light

“Mootummaan Ingiliz mootummaa PP dhiittaa mirga dhala namaa olaanaa geggeessaa jiru irratti dhiibbaa barbaachisu akka godhus gaafataniiru.”

The demonstrators specifically called on the UK government and international financial institutions to suspend all financial and diplomatic support to the Ethiopian government. A formal petition detailing these grievances was submitted to the UK Foreign Office .

The Role of the International Community

Protest leaders emphasized that international actors have a moral and legal obligation to intervene. The Ethiopian government, they argued, has repeatedly failed to protect its citizens and has instead weaponized state institutions against the Oromo people.

“Mootummaan Ingiliz mootummaa PP dhiittaa mirga dhala namaa olaanaa geggeessaa jiru irratti dhiibbaa barbaachisu akka godhus gaafataniiru.”

The call for the UK government to exert “necessary pressure” on the Prosperity Party government reflects a growing frustration among the Oromo diaspora with the international community’s perceived inaction. Despite widespread documentation of human rights abuses, Ethiopia has continued to receive diplomatic and financial support from Western nations .

The Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), which has been fighting the Ethiopian government since 2018, has also called on the United States to “withdraw all bilateral and multilateral support, including Bretton Woods financing, to the regime”.

A Broader Context of Conflict

The situation in Oromia cannot be understood in isolation. Ethiopia is facing multiple overlapping crises: the conflict in the Tigray region (2020-2022) may have officially ended, but violence continues in other parts of the country. The Amhara and Oromo regions have both experienced significant instability, with armed groups operating across large swaths of territory .

In Oromia, the conflict has been marked by a familiar pattern of violence: drone strikes, extrajudicial killings, disappearances, and attacks on civilian infrastructure. The UN has documented serious abuses by both government forces and the OLA .

The proliferation of armed militias has further complicated the situation. Groups like the Fano in Western and Central Oromia have been accused of carrying out mass killings against civilians. The government has been accused of arming some groups while prosecuting others, creating a volatile environment where violence begets more violence.

Conclusion

The London protest on May 27, 2025, was not an isolated event but part of an ongoing global campaign by the Oromo diaspora to bring attention to what they describe as genocide and systematic human rights abuses in their homeland. The demonstrators’ demands reflect a deep sense of urgency and desperation: they have called for an end to the killings, the withdrawal of forces, and international intervention.

“Ummatni Oromoo mootummaa kana jalatti boqonnaa dhabee guyyuu akka baalaa gadi haamamaa jiraachuun kan ibsame yoo ta’u, duuti Oromoo fi Oromiyaa irraa akka dhaabatu gaafatan.”

The Oromo people continue to live without peace, and the situation in Oromia remains deeply insecure. The international community now faces a critical test: whether it will respond to these calls with concrete action or allow another chapter of suffering to unfold largely unseen.