In an interview with OLF media, the President of the Oromo Studies Association (OSA) defended the participation of Dr. Berhanu Nega in OSA's recent conference and declared that Oromo struggle has transformed into Ethiopian struggle.

OSA president Dr. Haile Hirpa said "Oromo people's struggle can not proceed as before." Oromo people "must work together with other Ethiopian forces who want to change the government and democratize the country" added Dr. Haile Hirpa.

Dr. Berhanu Nega is the leader of the Diaspora based Ginbot 7 organization which opposes the current Meles Zenawi government of Ethiopia. Analysts say diaspora based Oromo and other politicians want to follow the example of Oromia based groups like MEDREK (Forum for Justice and Democratic Dialogue) which has managed to unite opposition forces by breaking ethnic, regional and ideological barriers.

But OSA's decision has been condemned by right-wing OLF supporters. One pro-OLF Oromo media criticized Dr. Haile Hirpa for allowing Dr. Berhanu to speak at the OSA conference. The media, Oromo Affairs Blog, said Berhanu is an Ethiopianist politician and his participation is not scholarly.

"OSA had no business organizing meetings for politicians to assist them in dissemination of their political views," it said.

However, supporters of OSA's leadership said diversity should be welcomed inside OSA.

Oromo-Ethiopian Political analyst Jawar Siraj Mohammed said "We cannot claim to fight against sociopolitical and economic exclusion while at the same time advocating self-marginalization." He said "a scholarly organization is not a fraternity or exclusive club where only select like-minded individuals can congregate." Another Oromo analyst Kemal Abdisa supported OSA's decision and added that Oromo unity has a strong foundation that can not be broken by exposure to non-Oromo scholars. "We Oromos are not gullible children who need guardians from foreign ideas," said Kemal.

The latest controversy inside OSA and among OLF supporters reflects growing division in the Oromo diaspora. In 2006, former OSA officials warned about the OSA's "regression from a scholarly organization to partisan politics with one function of the splintered OLF cadres as the show-masters." Analysts say the recent invitation of Berhanu Nega indicated the dispute between OLF factions. According to a reporter on Oromo Affairs Blog, the current OSA leadership supports one faction of OLF against other OLF factions that oppose the reformation of OLF.