Architects of OLF
Lenco Lata (born 1948) is a founding member of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and has been one of the longest-serving Oromo political leaders. His career spans the OLF's founding, leadership, and later evolution.
Lenco Lata
- Born 1948 in Arsi
- Studied in Ethiopia and later abroad
- Among the founding generation of OLF (1973)
- Held senior OLF roles for decades
- Later founded ODF (Oromo Democratic Front) as a political alternative
Other OLF Founders and Key Figures
| Leader | Role |
|---|---|
| Baaroo Tumsaa | Important early OLF strategist |
| Dima Noggo | Founding member |
| Dawud Ibsa Ayana | Later long-serving OLF chairman |
| Daoud Ibsa (returned 2018) | OLF chair; welcomed home by Abiy Ahmed |
The 1973 Founding
At the OLF's founding, the organization brought together:
- Former Macha-Tulama Association members (after the 1967 ban)
- Student movement participants
- Young intellectuals and military officers
Through the Derg Era
During the Derg years (1974-1991), the OLF:
- Conducted armed struggle
- Operated internationally
- Sustained political education
- Faced suppression and internal divisions
Post-1991 Turbulence
The OLF's post-1991 trajectory included:
- Participation in transitional government (1991-1992)
- Withdrawal and military defeat
- Years in exile
- Internal splits
- Welcome home in 2018
Evolution
Some founders formed alternatives:
- ODF (Lenco Lata and others) — political rather than military
- Other splinters and reunifications
- Ongoing negotiation with the Ethiopian state
Complex Reception
OLF founders' reception varies:
- Heroes to some Oromo
- Controversial figures to others
- Many have faced personal hardship, imprisonment, exile
Key takeaway: Lenco Lata and fellow OLF founders shaped Oromo political organization for 50+ years — through exile, war, negotiation, and evolution.