Brief Remarks on :A group of 85 Oromo scholars and professionals posted an “Open Letter to President Isaias Afwerki” on June 5, 2025
A group of 85 Oromo scholars and professionals posted an “Open Letter to President Isaias Afwerki” on June 5, 2025.
The “Letter” is regrettably replete with inaccuracies and contains a number of grave and unfounded accusations against Eritrea.
This cannot but arouse our dismay, particularly as the authors could have chosen a more appropriate approach of face to face discussions if the real motive is, as it should be, to alley lingering misunderstandings or perspectives on matters of paramount importance to Eritrea and the Oromo people.
In this spirit, Eritrea believes that the most constructive way to address these matters remains through a frank, face to face, dialogue between signatories of the Letter or their representatives with relevant Eritrean counterparts.
In the meantime, and for the record, we wish to reiterate Eritrea’s long-standing views and positions:
- Eritrea has utmost respect for the Oromo people and their culture.
- Eritrea’s resolute solidarity with, and strong support for, the Ethiopian people, and in particular the Oromo people’s struggle in pursuit of their fundamental rights, has spanned over half a century.
- In this respect, the reference to political Orommuma in President Isaias’ speech does not detract from its principled respect for the Oromo people and alludes to vexing ideological interpretations and overtones that have come to light in the recent couple of years from certain and unrepresentative quarters.
- Eritrea is unwaveringly committed to peace and justice in the Horn of Africa. It is no secret that the drum beating and drive for war is not coming from Eritrea but from those who are openly agitating for the conquest of sovereign Eritrean territories.
