Oromia Dispatch 16-B - Oromo Unity & Struggle: Common Minimum Program (CMP) of the Oromo Struggle

(Published as part of the “Oromo Unity & Struggle: Essays on Freedom and the Future” series. Everyone is invited to contribute. Send your contributions to bantii.qixxeessaa@gmail.com.)

By Bantii Qixxeessaa

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Draft – For Discussion and Adoption ONLY This Common Minimum Program (CMP) originates from the vision and recommendations set forth in  O-Dispatch #16 - Oromo Unity & Struggle: A Call for Shared Principles Over Symbolic Gestures, and O-Dispatch #16A – Oromo Unity & Struggle: From Vision to Action, A Practical Roadmap for Oromo Unity. Those essays emphasized the urgent need to move beyond rhetoric and symbolic displays toward a functional, principled unity grounded in concrete, non-negotiable commitments. The CMP is a direct step toward operationalizing that vision—translating the call for a shared foundation into a clear, actionable framework that can unite diverse strands of the Oromo liberation movement.

It is intended for the various groups working to unite the Oromo struggle to adapt, customize, and use as their own. My recommendation remains that these groups avoid duplicating efforts and instead work together as a single, coordinated unit—because if those working to unite the struggle cannot unite themselves, they will lose credibility, be seen as hypocrites, and appear as a fragmented set of actors trying to achieve unity for others, which would be both ironic and laughable.

Common Minimum Program (CMP) of the Oromo Struggle

Preamble

We, representatives of the Oromo liberation movement—armed and unarmed, political and civic, at home and abroad—affirm our shared duty to secure the freedom, dignity, and self-determination of the Oromo nation. Guided by the principles of the Gadaa system and the sacrifices of generations, we declare the following non-negotiable commitments as the foundation of our united struggle.

1. The Right to Self-Determination

• The Oromo nation possesses the inalienable right to determine its political status and freely choose its path—up to and including the full independence of Oromia.
• This right is rooted in international law, affirmed in Ethiopia’s own constitution (Article 39), and sustained by the will of our people.

2. Dismantling Oppression

• We commit to dismantling all colonial, imperial, and authoritarian structures that deny the Oromo people their sovereignty, cultural integrity, and economic control.
• No political arrangement that preserves domination over the Oromo nation shall be accepted.

3. Legitimacy of All Forms of Resistance

• We recognize both armed and nonviolent struggle as legitimate means of pursuing our national liberation.
• We reject any attempt to delegitimize, criminalize, or divide our movement based on chosen methods of struggle.

4. Mutual Recognition and Non-Hostility

• All signatories to this CMP pledge mutual recognition as legitimate actors in the Oromo liberation cause.
• We will not engage in armed, verbal, or political hostility against one another. Disputes shall be addressed through agreed mechanisms.

5. Internal Conflict Resolution

• We shall establish a national Oromo mediation council—drawing on Gadaa traditions, elders, jurists, and respected veterans—to resolve disputes and enforce this CMP.

6. Accountability and Ethical Conduct

• All actors shall adhere to an Oromo Liberation Ethics Charter (coming soon), ensuring transparency in decision-making, respect for civilian life, and responsible stewardship of resources.
• We will institute public-facing review mechanisms to build and maintain the trust of our people.

7. Commitment to the People

• We affirm that our struggle is accountable to the Oromo people, not to personal, factional, or external interests.
• We will actively consult and involve communities in decisions affecting their future.

This Common Minimum Program is the unshakable foundation of our unity.
By signing it, we bind ourselves to work together until the Oromo nation achieves its right to live free, secure, and sovereign on its own land.

Signature: ______________________________

Name: _____________________ For: _____________________

Date: __________________________________