Oromo and Somali people share language, religion and culture as well as a common way of life which bind the two more strongly and tightly. The Oromia and Somali states also share Ethiopia’s longest interior border that stretches 1,500km. Despite these close relations, since the last three or four years some anti-peace elements and groups operating in the name of the two ethnic groups; but want to use it for their own personnel gains had been attempting to create conflict and unrest between the peoples of the two states. According to Shimalis Abdissa Vice President of Oromia State, Oromo and Somali people are from similar domain and they have a lot of longstanding identities that strengthen their attachments and induce them live in brotherly relationships.
As to him, the two people were oppressed because of their identity and alienated from their naturally gifted resources for hundreds of years during the past systems of governments and they had been undertaking struggles against these oppressive forces in groups and individually. As to him, the unity, togetherness and cooperation of Oromo and Somali people are essential to ensure the development of the country. Stressing that there were no longstanding ethnic conflict between Oromo ethnic group and Somali people, he said that Saddeningly following propagation fabricated by some individuals, conflicts were occurred in the two states.
As a result, a number of people were displaced from the two sides. Currently things are changed and the relations between the two peoples are improved markedly owing to the engagement of the federal government, administration of the two states, community and religious leaders; and residents of the two states have started living peacefully. “As unity between and among peoples is one of the crucial elements for the development of the country, we will work to reinforce the spirit of brotherhood between the two peoples. Most importantly, their long aged brotherhood relations and the blood tie exists between them are much more supportive to restore peace within the communities.
Mustepha Mohammed, Vice President of Somali State, on his part said that the two peoples had no a history of enmity given that antipeace elements created conflicts. And now, it is over. The two states are working jointly to rehabilitate displaced peoples of the two states and are undertaking a lot of measures to restore the long aged relations. Doctor Lencho Bati, a politician, on his part said that in the history of Oromo struggle against the oppressive forces, the people of Somali had been standing by the sides of Oromo freedom fighters realizing a feudal system as a common enemy.
The Oromo people do not forget the kindness of Somalis in the different era of struggles. Mentioning that peace at any rate is crucial for the development of a given country, Lencho said that the peaceful relations of the two have considerable advantages for countries of the Horn and beyond in terms of sustaining peace and enhancing economic integration. Mohammed Remedan Administrator of Babile Woreda of Oromia State said that during the challenging years 59,000 people are displaced from Woredas of Oromia Babile and Somali Babile. However, currently all of the displaced peoples are returned to their respective homes.
According to him, since recent time, there is no any conflict in the border areas of the two states and roads which link the two are opened. Aisha Kedir resident of Jijiga town who has Somali ethnicity said: “we are tied by blood” exemplifying that out of her four daughters, three of them married the Oromo men. She noted that as it has a public support currently, the measure that has been undertaken by the government to strength the unity of the community has borne fruits.
The Ethiopian Herald May 15/2019
BY TAMERU REGASA
