ETHNIC PARTIES AND STATE CONTINUITY IN ETHIOPIA: A CASE ON OROMO LIBERATION FRONT (OLF) AND NATIONAL MOVEMENT OF AMHARA (NaMa)

Objective: The objective of this article was to demonstrate the position of OLF and NaMA regarding the Ethiopian state continuity and national issues.

Methods: Interview, observation, and focus group discussion were employed beside to document and manifesto analysis. The research is qualitative and used comparative case study design. The analysis technique was thematic.

Results: The finding of this study reveals OLF as secessionist, consider emperor Menelik II as a black colonizer and other Ethiopian Emperors as assimilationist. It has zero value for Abyssinian values and legacies. Its participation in destructing economic sectors, sowing ethnic hatred, killing innocents, treason against the state, and unwillingness to demilitarize till today demonstrates it as a threat for national unity. Conversely, NaMA praise the works of previous Ethiopian rulers and claim Addis Ababa as the city of All Ethiopians. Unlike OLF that was formed on the basis of colonial thesis, NaMA was formed on the basis of national oppression thesis. It strongly supports unity and state continuity.

Conclusion: A discussion platform among political parties for national consensus and unity has to be extensively done. Such unresolved issues will going to be a threat for state continuity. Major revisions on constitution and other legal frameworks should be adopted.