O-Dispatch #2 - Lessons from the World: When Demanding Independence Worked

By Bantii Qixxeessaa

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The word “independence” often evokes strong reactions, especially in countries where centralized power is entrenched, and dissent is quickly labeled as extremism. In the Ethiopian context, calls for self-determination are routinely dismissed as “secessionist,” “dangerous,” or “unrealistic.” Yet history tells a different story: demanding independence has worked—and continues to work—under specific conditions, and when pursued with clarity, legitimacy, and courage. This article aims to normalize and de-stigmatize the demand for independence by showcasing global case studies where formerly marginalized or colonized peoples successfully secured sovereignty.

These movements, while distinct in geography and method, share critical lessons for the Oromo struggle.

1. Eritrea: Armed Struggle and Diplomatic Persistence (1993)

Eritrea’s quest for independence from Ethiopia offers one of the most direct parallels to the Oromo experience. After being forcibly annexed in the 1960s, Eritreans launched a 30-year armed struggle led by the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF). Despite international silence for much of the war, the EPLF remained unwavering in its demand for full sovereignty (Iyob, 1995).

Key Strategies:

●        Consistent messaging around the right to self-determination

●        Formation of parallel governance structures in liberated zones

●        Leveraging Ethiopia’s internal turmoil (collapse of the Derg regime in 1991)

●        Use of a UN-supervised referendum to validate the outcome (UN, 1993) 

Lesson: Independence became reality not simply because of military success, but because the goal was consistently stated, morally grounded, and institutionally reinforced.

2. South Sudan: Alliance Politics and the Cost of Protracted War (2011)

South Sudan’s independence came after decades of armed conflict with the north. Initially framed as a demand for autonomy, the movement evolved into a full-fledged call for statehood after repeated betrayals, marginalization, and genocidal campaigns by successive Khartoum regimes (Johnson, 2011).

Key Strategies:

●        Shifting from autonomy to full independence after peace deals failed

●        Building strategic alliances—especially with the U.S. and regional powers

●        Signing the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which included a guaranteed referendum on independence (CPA, 2005)

●        Framing the movement around justice, survival, and dignity rather than ethnonationalism alone

Lesson: Even initially moderate movements can evolve into independence campaigns when central governments prove incapable of reform. Tactical alliances and legal mechanisms matter—but so does moral clarity.

3. Kosovo: Legal Framing and International Support (2008)

Kosovo’s secession from Serbia came after years of persecution, armed conflict, and eventual NATO intervention in 1999. While not recognized by all states, Kosovo has received broad international acceptance as an independent nation (ICJ, 2010).

Key Strategies:

●        Emphasizing humanitarian catastrophe (massacres, ethnic cleansing)

●        Gaining strong Western diplomatic and military support

●        Declaring independence based on international law precedents (e.g., remedial secession)

●        Presenting Kosovo as a modern, secular, democratic project

Lesson: Framing the independence demand in legal, moral, and humanitarian terms can win powerful international allies—even in the face of contested legitimacy.

4. East Timor: From Indonesian Occupation to UN-Supported Independence (2002)

After being invaded by Indonesia in 1975, East Timor endured decades of violent occupation. The resistance movement—largely isolated—gained traction only after persistent advocacy and a brutal massacre that shocked the world. The eventual referendum, overseen by the UN, led to full independence (Kingsbury, 2009).

Key Strategies:

●        Use of international media and solidarity networks to expose human rights violations

●        Diplomacy through the Catholic Church and diaspora

●        Maintaining a non-negotiable goal of independence, even while engaging in humanitarian dialogue

Lesson: Global visibility and moral consistency can convert ignored struggles into global causes—especially when aligned with clear principles and international law.

Shared Lessons for the Oromo Movement

Each of these cases differs in history and context, but their common threads are instructive:

1. Clarity of Purpose Matters: None of these movements succeeded by being vague or evasive. Independence was not whispered; it was declared.
2. Diplomacy and Documentation Count: Parallel to armed resistance or grassroots mobilization, these movements-built institutions, documented abuses, and articulated political visions.
3. Strategic Alliances Are Key: Regional and international actors matter. Gaining allies—through moral legitimacy, strategic value, or geopolitical leverage—was decisive in each case.
4. Prolonged Oppression Justifies Sovereignty: Long histories of injustice, marginalization, and failed integration efforts build the moral and legal basis for sovereignty claims.

Silence Is Not Neutral—It Is a Missed Opportunity

The international system may favor the status quo, but it has repeatedly accepted independence when pursued with clarity, strategic framing, and perseverance. For the Oromo people, the path to independence may be long—but it is neither illegitimate nor unthinkable. The more dangerous path is ambiguity: a movement that fears to declare what it truly seeks, or worse, forgets why it was born.

In every case where independence was won, it started with one simple act: demanding it. Clearly, loudly, and without apology.