Oromia

Oromia is a large regional state located in Ethiopia. It serves as the homeland for the Oromo people.

The region is significant because it is the largest state in Ethiopia by population. In 2017, the population was projected to be 35,467,001 people. Oromia is also the largest regional state by land area. It occupies a central position within the country. The region's capital is Addis Ababa, which is also known as Finfinne. Under Article 49 of the Ethiopian Constitution, Addis Ababa is an enclave. This means the city is entirely surrounded by a Special Zone within Oromia. The constitution also gives Oromia special interests in the city's natural resources and social services.

Oromia shares borders with almost every other region in Ethiopia. To the east, it borders the Somali Region. The northern borders include the Amhara, Afar, and Benishangul-Gumuz regions. To the northeast lies Dire Dawa. The western boundaries include the South Sudanese state of Upper Nile, the Gambela Region, the South West Ethiopia Region, the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, and the Sidama Region. To the south, Oromia borders the Eastern Province of Kenya. Another enclave, the Harari Region, sits within the eastern part of Oromia, surrounded by East Hararghe. The geography of the region is diverse. It includes parts of former provinces such as Bale, Arsi, Illubabor, Kaffa, Shewa, and Sidamo.

The history of the Oromo people in the Ethiopian Highlands dates back to the Middle Ages. Muslim geographers and Ethiopian royal chronicles provide evidence of these early societies. Arabic sources from the 13th century describe a region called Gazla, also known as Karla or Garla. The Andalusian geographer Ibn Saʽa al-Maghribī wrote about this land. He stated that Gazla began at the equator and stretched south of Mount Murus. He noted that the region provided gold and silver mines. Historians like Tadeusz Lewicki believe Gazla refers to the interior highlands of southern Ethiopia. This area likely housed Cushitic-speaking peoples, possibly early Oromo populations. This region acted as a vital corridor for trade between the Ethiopian plateau and the Zanj coast.

Political changes shaped the region during the late 19th century. The Oromo remained independent until the final quarter of the 1800s. Between 1881 and 1886, Emperor Menelik II led several invasion campaigns. These campaigns were initially unsuccessful. The Arsi Oromo offered fierce resistance against the Abyssinian conquest. They fought against an enemy using modern European firearms. Despite their resistance, they were defeated in 1886. Later, in the 1940s, some people from Bale and Arsi joined the Harari Kulub movement. This movement opposed Amhara Christian domination in Hararghe. The Ethiopian government responded by violently suppressing these ethno-religious movements.

Social and political tensions continued through the 20th century. In 1967, Emperor Haile Selassie I outlawed the Mecha and Tulama Self-Help Association (MTSHA). This was an important Oromo social movement. The regime arrested and executed many members, including Colonel General Tadesse Birru. These actions led to the formation of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) in 1973. Many Oromos felt the imperial rule was oppressive. The Oromo language was banned in schools and administration. Both the imperial and Derg governments relocated Amhara people into southern Ethiopia. This was done to help with northern droughts and to fill government roles. These moves often replaced Oromo texts with Amharic in schools.

The early 1990s brought significant shifts in Ethiopian power. The Ethiopian Democratic People's Republic began to lose control. In 1990, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) formed the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). The EPRDF included a subordinate group called the Oromo People's Democratic Organization (OPDO). The OLF viewed the OPDO as a way to limit Oromo influence. On May 28, 1991, the EPRDF seized power. The OLF and EPRDF initially pledged to work together. However, they could not cooperate effectively. The OLF withdrew from the transitional government in 1992 due to harassment and assassinations. This led to guerrilla warfare between the OLA and the EPRDF.

Modern Oromia features many significant towns and natural landmarks. Major towns include Adama, Jimma, Bishoftu, and Asella.

The Bale Mountains National Park is a notable area with diverse vegetation.

The region has also faced border disputes. In 2004, a referendum was held to resolve a dispute with the Somali Region. While 80% of the disputed areas fell under Oromia, there were allegations of irregularities. These disputes led to the displacement of many people. Estimates suggest 21,520 people became internally displaced in certain border districts. In 2019, the Irreecha festival was celebrated in Addis Ababa. This was a major event because the festival had been banned for 150 years.