Regionalisation or marginalisation? The case of the Oromo living in Amhara region of Ethiopia

Abstract

Since Ethiopia adopted a multinational federation in 1991, Amhara and Oromiya have evolved into nationalist regional states that serve the political interests of the ethnic Amhara and Oromo, respectively. Drawing borders does not conform to ethno-territoriality, leaving some outside their home regions. In this article, we shed light on the marginalisation currently faced by the Oromo people living in areas stretching on the regional Amhara side of the border with the Oromiya region. The data used combined interviews, focus group discussions, observations, audiovisual archives, and documentary reviews. We found Oromos in areas severely marginalised by dominant political narratives that have attempted to promote homogeneous ethno-states. They experience an institutional marginalisation that limits their social and political opportunities. The study points to the need to address the repressive structures that lead to the structural marginalisation of people. Above all, the demarcations in the study area are revised.

Keywords

• Amhara
• Ethno federal states
• Ethiopia
• Oromo-oromiya
• Structural marginalisation