Sidama Lunar New Year, Fichchee Celebration Marred by Political Interferences

Sidama Crisis Monitor Editorial

7 April 2024

The Sidama New Year Fichchee celebration that commenced on 5 April 2024 and that would last for two weeks, was marred by political interference by the ruling prosperity party officials from Sidama state and Finfinne (Addis Ababa).

First, The Sidama ruling party cadress transported paid elders for qeexalla from districts unusually early in the morning and made sure that the celebration lasted only 2-3 hours. After 9 am these participants were transported out of Hawaasa. This was done to make sure that no anti-government protests could erupt after Cambalaalla celebration on 6 April 2024. People did not enjoy Cambalaala celebration at Gudumaale. It was done not in the spirit of celebrating the cultural heritage, but for political campaign and face saving for the corrupt cadres of the ruling party. It was a broken, and politically manipulated event lacking the spirit of Fichchee, a UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Secondly, Shimelis Abdisa, prosperity party leader of Oromia instructed his Sidama puppet rulers to organize rallies in support of Abiy Ahmed.

It emerged that Shimelis Abdissa, who attended Sidama Fichchee celebration on 6 April instructed Desta Ledamo, his puppet Sidama ruler to organize rallies next week in support of Abiy Ahmed’s dictatorship. The Sidama nation celebrates Fichchee for two weeks from 5 April to 19 April and the community members are not required to abandon their celebrations and embark on political campaigns during Fichchee.

However, since Shimelis and prosperity party have no respect for the rights of any peoples, they did not care to disrupt Fichchee to embark on the campaign of praise for dictator Abiy Ahmed whose rule resulted in worst form of governance, massive corruption, injustice, poverty and high youth unemployment in Sidama State.

At present, the cadress are mobilizing residents to rally in the so-called 4 zones in Sidama State on Tuesday 9 April 2024 in support of dictator Abiy Ahmed. This rally must be stopped. Sidama cannot praise Abiy Ahmed who massacred hundreds of innocent Sidamas including 153 Sidama civilians during the 11-11-11 massacre and millions in other parts of the country during the past 6 years. No to pro Abiy Ahmed political rally in Sidama State.

Sidama Crisis Monitor Editorial