Workineh Genet Yihunie
The Amhara and Oromo ethno-nationalist elites continue to construct competing narratives and discursive practices to legitimize their claims. Drawing on a qualitative research, this study explores the dynamics of Amhara and Oromo ethno-nationalist elite contestations through both primary and secondary sources. Primary data were collected from six political parties representing the two groups, complemented by insights from experts and analysts. Employing political discourse analysis, the findings indicate that the contested historiography of modern Ethiopian state-building, together with the violent actions of Oromo political forces against the Amhara masses, is driving a political crisis in Ethiopia. Key areas of contestation include the absence of political representation for Amharas within the Oromia Regional State, territorial claims, and ownership issues concerning Addis Ababa. Dialogues to address these issues faced challenges due to the divergent political ambitions. Due to this, the study proposes alternatives.