The Oromo National Liberation Struggle has a proud heritage of long resistance to alien domination. The long history of the Oromo national struggle can be divided into three periods: the first period lasted from about 1887, when Menelik, a European supported king of a part of Abysinian embarked on the conquest of the entire Oromiyaa, to about 1900, when he with the assistance of European powers managed to colonize Oromiyaa. By the year 1900 therefore, Oromiyaa had ceased to exist as a free and independent nation. During this period, the gallant sons and daughters of Oromiyaa fought in the defence of every inch of their territory with astonishing bravery that has left them a priceless legacy of heroism. In the battles of Arsi, Gulalee, Abichu, chalanqo, Wallo, Meta, Borana and many more, they gave their precious lives in the defence of their country and their freedom.
The second period lasted from about 1900 to 1964. During this period, the struggle against the occupier took various forms. There were numerous and widespread peasant uprisings in various parts of Oromiyaa. In 1928, the Raya Oromo rebelled against Haile Silassie's colonial government. Haile silassie was able to suppress the rebellion only with the assistance of the British Royal Airforce stationed in the British colony of Aden. In 1948, the Raya once again rose up in arms. The British forces once again were called for assistance. In 1958, the Dawee, Kara Qorree and Dhummugaa rose up against the colonial government; hundreds were massacred. In 1935, Oromos formed a confederation and petitioned the British government for the establishment of an independent Oromo Republic. They also appealed to the League of Nations for membership that was rejected. In 1963, the Bale Oromo peasant uprising against the colonial regime was put down with the help of the British army, Israeli experts and the American Airforce. Until about the end of 1963 and the beginning of 1964, the Oromo National struggle for Liberation however widespread was generally uncoordinated.
The third period was opened with the formation of a mass Oromo organization called the Macha-Tulama Association in 1964. The Association expanded its membership very rapidly all over Oromiyaa as a Pan-Oromo movement. The creation of the Macha-Tulama Association marked the beginning of a new era in the Oromo resistance movement. The Oromo people were long hungry for a liberation movement that would marshal their resources, unite their activities and channel their creative energies against the forces of oppression. It championed the social, educational, cultural and political rights of the Oromo people. The Macha-Tulama Association among others, had a dynamic Youth Wing that produced revolutionary literature, politicized and organized Oromo masses. Many of the brilliant leaders of the Association including Mamo Mezamir in 1966 and General Tadesse Biru 1974 were either martyred or sentenced to long term imprisonment. Between 1967 and 1974 some members of the Macha-Tulama Association and Oromo students continued agitating for Oromo independence and raising the political awareness of the Oromo people through underground papers such as the "Voice of Oromo Against Tyranny".
The spontaneous uprising of February 1974 in the Empire State of Ethiopia was brought about in part by the Oromo masses. It was also out of the Macha-Tulama Association underground cells that the Oromo Liberation Front was formed in 1974. In the meantime, the Oromos in Diaspora broke away from the Ethiopian student unions and formed their own Oromo organizations. This marked the end of a phase and a beginning of another in Oromo Movement. Since then, scattered armed struggles waged in different parts of Oromiyaa gained momentum gradually and emerged as an organised national liberation struggle led by the Oromo liberation Front (OLF), Islamic Front for the Liberation of Oromiyaa (IFLO), United Oromo peoples Liberation Front (UOPLF), Oromo Peoples Liberation Organization (OPLO) Oromo peaples Liberation Front. The armed struggle was also promoted by different different organizations, such as Union of Oromo in North America, Union of Oromo Students in Europe (UOSE), Oromo Democratic Organization in America(ODOA), Waldayaa Tokkummaa Oromoo America (WTOA) etc.
The struggle of these militant organizations however divided was by far well co-ordinated and well organized Oromo National struggle that the Oromo have waged since their colonization. However, they failed to form a united front against their common enemy and at times even fought among themselves The Oromo consciousness came as a shock to the military rulers of the Empire of Ethiopia. They launched a ferocious campaign against the Oromo freedom fighters and all Oromo nationals at home and abroad. During Mengistu's era, tens of thousands of Oromos were killed and over a million Oromo people became refugees in different parts of the world. Thus, the military government of Ethiopia managed to consolidate the garrison state.
After the fall of the Mengistu regime, the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front named itself the Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front, took over the power with the help of the Eritrean Peoples Liberation Front and the United States of America. Some Oromo individuals and organizations began to entertain the hope that the Oromo question will be resolved through peaceful means. These expectations have not been without grounds. For the first time the problem was internationally recognized as a part of Ethiopia's political problems. But the recognition had no effect upon Oromo's political situation, or upon replacing authoritarian rule with democracy in Ethiopian Empire. Most Oromos knew all along the true intention of the EPRDF. Their objective was to topple the Mengistu government and to assume the colonial power. The Oromo on the other hand have as their objective the formation of an independent Oromo Republic. The Oromos died not to democratise Ethiopia. But as expected the EPRDF openly manipulated the 1992 elections and started a most brutal and savage rule over Oromiyaa. Under this diabolical and brutal government, hundreds and thousands of Oromos have been killed. Hundreds and thousands are living in desperate situations in refugee camps. The TPLF/EPRDF is vicious in dealing with anyone who disagrees with them, they are dehumanising the Oromo people, plundering the economy and degenerated the country in order to remain in power.
Successive Ethiopian governments have deceived Oromos repeatedly during peace talks and negotiations. Because of this fact, peace talks and negotiations have little or no credibility among the Oromo people today, and the majority see armed struggle as the only option available to regain their fundamental individual and national rights. The struggle will continue. Unity is Oromos strength. All colonial governments from Menelik to Meles have effectively used the divide and rule policy against Oromo national struggle. The issue of national unity has been the most raised issue among Oromos of all ages. The antithetical force that can reject and dismantle a well-organized colonial government is a force that is organized at a higher level through discipline, excellence and unity. Because of the fact that the Ethiopian colonial rule is based on notorious divide and rule policies the revolutionary experience of this modern world also repeatedly proves that national unity, common understanding and sense of belonging together are necessary conditions without which successful freedom cannot be achieved.
The Oromo national struggle for liberation reached this higher and dynamic phase as the four prominent Oromo liberation forces met on July 20 to 25, 2000 and decided to end the past which was a time of fragmentation, separation and division that contributed to the weakness of the Oromo national struggle and signed a memorundum of understanding that became the base for bringing together all Oromo forces. Based on the principles of the July memorundum of understanding, a congress in which six Oromo liberation forces participated was convened on September 16 to 20, 2000. On this Historic congress, known as the Founding Congress of the United Liberation Forces of Oromiyaa, participant organizations agreed to work together and formed an umbrella organization known as UNITED LIBERATION FORCES OF OROMIYAA ( ULFO ). This historic event, more than any thing else expresses the unmistakable growth of oromo nationalism. Thus, the rebirth of an independent Oromo nation state will not remain a dream. It will soon be a areality!