The Protection Of National Minorities In Amhara National Regional State The Case Of Oromo Minorities In Angollela And Tera Woreda

The Constitution of the Amhara National Regional State, as provided under Article 73(1),rnestablished Nationality Administration (Yebehereseb Astedader) to the Peoples of Himra,rnAwi and Oromo in the area inhabited by such peoples. The Nationality Councilrn(Yebeherseb Mekerbet) of the nationality administration has a number of powers such asrndetermining the working language of the nationality, ensuring the protection of thernnationality’s rights to speak and write in its own language, develop and promote its ownrnculture as well as maintain and preserve its own history. In addition to the above peoples,rnthe Argobas have also their own nationality Administration by virtue of ProclamationrnNo.130/2006, a proclamation establishing the Argoba Nationality Woreda. Thisrnproclamation guarantees the rights mentioned above to the Argoba people. As a result,rnthese minority nationalities of Amhara National Regional State are able to exercise rightsrnsignificant to minorities like the right to use, develop and promote their culture andrnlanguage, the right to self-government and equitable representation in the regional andrnfederal government.rnAlthough the Amhara National Regional State’s recognition and protection of therninterests of minorities of the regional state is admired, it did not address the interests ofrnminorities found outside the nationality administrations. This research is intended tornshow the protection of the Oromos found in Angollela and Tera Woreda (the study area),rnfound in North Shewa Zone, outside the nationality administration established for thernOromo people. The Oromo minorities of Angollela and Tera Woreda, accounting 12% ofrnthe Woreda population, are not able to exercise those rights like the right to develop andrnpromote their culture, equitable representation in the Woreda Council and AdministrativernCouncil, the right education in their mother tongue and the like simply because theyrnhappen to exist outside the nationality administration established for the Oromos.rnAs a result, I argue that the Oromo minorities of Angollela and Tera Woreda should bernentitled to equitable representation in the Woreda Council and Administrative Council,rnthe right to develop and promote their culture, the right to trial in their own language andrnthe right to be taught in their mother tongue. This requires the Amhara National RegionalState to take appropriate measures including legislative measures dealing to the peculiarrninterests of minorities found in such situation. Like wise, the Woreda Administrationrnshould also make its practices in conformity with the peculiar interests of the Oromornminorities of the Woreda.rnKey Words: Angollela and Tera Woreda; Minorities; Oromos; Protection; Right

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