SUMMARY
The Oromo people are a large ethnic and ethno-linguistic community residing mainly in southern Ethiopia. The community has been involved in non-state conflicts with other ethnic communities in Ethiopia.
The Oromo people are the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia, making up about a third of the countrys population of nearly 80 million. The Oromo community comprises numerous subgroups, as well as adherents to many different faiths and cultural traditions. Analysts often distinguish between five main groups: western Oromo, mainly settled agriculturists and influenced by Christian missionaries; northern Oromo, relatively integrated into Amhara culture; southern Oromo, with many different groups, mainly pastoralists; eastern Oromo, mainly Muslim and with strong links to the Arab world; and Borana, who still adhere strongly to "traditional" Oromo culture and socio-political structure, and are concentrated close to the Kenyan border. Some Oromo speak Ethiopias official language Amharic, while others speak the Oromo language, Oromifa. Despite the heterogeneity of the Oromo people, analysts claim that there is a cultural and political pan-Oromo identity. In line with Ethiopias present ethno-federalist policy, according to which each nationality is granted far-reaching self-governance, Oromo-dominated areas make up Oromiya state, the largest federal state in Ethiopia.
Throughout much of Ethiopias modern history, the Oromo have been politically marginalized and discriminated against. During the creation and consolidation of Ethiopia, the Oromo were subjugated and dispossessed by the Amhara-dominated central state. Discontent with continued subordination and land dispossession under Haile Selassie led to the formation of the OLF (Adda Bilisummaa Oromoo, Oromo Liberaton Front) in 1973, with self-determination as a main goal. Today, there are numerous political and militant Oromo groups with different goals and affiliations. After a brief period of cooperation with the new government after the fall of the Marxist-Leninist “Derg” in 1991, the OLF withdrew from the political process and has continued to wage a small-scale intrastate conflict, at times leading to the state detaining and targeting Oromo people on suspicion of involvement with the OLF. Meanwhile, other groups, such as the OPDO (Oromo Peoples Democracy Organizations), cooperate with the central government.
In recent years, there have been numerous non-state conflicts between Oromo (or Oromo subgroups) and other groups over border demarcations, scarce land resources and similar issues. In conflicts with other ethnic groups the Oromo appear to not deploy a formally organised militia, but instead rely on more loosely organised groupings to carry out violence against its opponents.
The Oromo people have been involved in the non-state category of UCDP organised violence.
