Tactics of Patriots in Qellem Wallaggaa, Western Ethiopia: The Case of Oliqa Dingil and His Compatriots, 1936 - 1940

Abstract

This study focuses on reconstructing history of tactics of Patriots in Qellem Wallaggaa from 1936 to 1940 mainly that of hero-patriot Oliqa Dingil and his compatriots in their guerilla fighting as the theme has not been studied comprehensively. The year 1936 is taken as a point of departure because it was a period when the Italians occupied the country. The year 1940 is also a landmark because it is a year when Oliqa Dingil was died. The study was conducted as part of staff research in Dambi Dollo University from early October 2020 to March 2021. Researcher employed systematic collection, analysis, interpretation and documentation of both oral and written sources. The oral sources were collected through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussion. And most of our written sources constitute both published and unpublished materials.  The patriots began their patriotic actions against the internal conquerors during the process of centralization in Ethiopia. The conquerors had harassed the people with suppression, maladministration, exploitation and egotism. After the Italian occupation of Qellem Wallaggaa, the patriots turned their faces towards fighting the Italian invaders and their subordinates. The patriots remained nightmare against their enemies through tactful guerilla fighting. The tactics generally include recruitment techniques, leadership qualities, concealment techniques, sudden mobility, diplomacy, sympathy, and use of land terrain for asylum. The patriots had also refrained from generalizing and equalizing the collaborators as ardent enemies as the Italian troops. Using these tactics, Oliqa Dingil and his compatriots harassed the Italian troops and the committed collaborators for at least four years. Unfortunately, the patriots were dispersed after Oliqa Dingil was killed with poison given to him through conspirators. Though Oliqa Dingil was died without observing the liberation of his country from the Italian occupation, almost all people memorize him as one of the gallant patriots of Ethiopia.