№3-2020-09
Loshkariov I.D., Kopytsev I.S.
REVOLUTION OF THE OROMO AND THE PROBLEM OF INTER-ETHNIC BALANCE IN ETHIOPIA AT THE CURRENT STAGE (1991-2020)
The article analyses the inter-ethnic balance in the social ranking of Ethiopian society. Observation of the historical background allows to conduct a comparative analysis of the public positions of Amhara, Oromo and Tigray and to trace the evolution of relations inside this «triad» during the different stages of genesis and development of Ethiopian statehood. Long-term domination of Amharas during the time of the Empire and Dergue was replaced by the domination of Tigrayans who took the control over security ministries and this way over the political life of the country. The death of Meles Zenawi, who was the self-perpetuating leader of Tigrayans, in 2012 and sweeping protests of Oromos which started all over the country in 2014 broke the positions of TPLF and brought to power Oromos, firstly in the person of the prime-minister Abiy Ahmed. The authors come to the conclusion that «the revolution of Oromo» as the stated fact hasn’t led to the creation of a qualitatively new, well-ordered system of the inter-ethnic balance yet. More and more arguments appear around the conception of «medemer» which is Abiy Ahmed’s initiative aimed to create the all-Ethiopian identity and, in addition to it, new political actors which are antagonistic to the government segregate from Oromo.
Keywords: Ethiopia, Oromo, Tigray, Amhara, inter-ethnic balance, political elites, social ranking.
Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov (Russia)
