(Published as part of the “Imagining The Independent State of Oromia: Essays on Freedom and the Future” series. Everyone is invited to contribute. Send your contributions to bantii.qixxeessaa@gmail.com.)
By Col. Lattuu Leencaa, Security Strategist
For those who still wonder what freedom looks like… this story is for you.
🎧 Listen to the Audio Version (3 minutes)
 |
Before independence, security in Oromia was often synonymous with fear, repression, and disruption. Nowhere was this more pronounced than in Wallaga and Guji — regions that suffered some of the most aggressive tactics of the Ethiopian state: nightly raids, militarized checkpoints, and a policing model that treated civilians as suspects rather than citizens. Before independence, security in Oromia was often synonymous with fear, repression, and disruption. Nowhere was this more pronounced than in Wallaga and Guji — regions that suffered some of the most aggressive tactics of the Ethiopian state: nightly raids, militarized checkpoints, and a policing model that treated civilians as suspects rather than citizens. |
|---|
From the first day of self-governance, we chose a new path. We dismantled the old command-and-control structures and rebuilt security from the ground up — locally recruited, rights-based, community-integrated, and democratically accountable. Today, those who ensure peace in Oromia are not outsiders. They are community members: parents, shopkeepers, farmers — individuals deeply invested in the well-being of the people they protect.
We made critical investments in training — not just in tactical preparedness, but in conflict resolution, de-escalation, and the principles of human rights law. Early in the transition, we introduced the Security Service Compact: a public code of conduct detailing the responsibilities of officers and the rights of citizens — a tool for transparency, accountability, and mutual respect.
The results are clear and tangible:
-
Market days in Wallaga proceed without intimidation or military presence.
-
Farmers in Guji transport their goods freely, without fear of arbitrary checkpoints or extortion.
-
Local disputes are increasingly settled through dialogue and mediation, rather than violence or state force.
Most importantly, we’ve learned that security cannot stand alone. It is interdependent on progress in health, education, and the economy. As economic opportunity expands, desperation-fueled crime declines. As healthcare systems stabilize communities, there is less vulnerability to exploitation. As education raises civic awareness, community cooperation with local security units becomes the norm — not the exception.
Challenges remain: cross-border smuggling, foreign interference, and the need for continued professional development. But the core transformation is undeniable — in Oromia, safety is no longer a privilege. It is a public right, rooted in trust, grounded in accountability, and essential to every achievement of these ten years.
No comments:
Post a Comment