Oromay by Baalu Girma

Translated by David DeGusta & Mesfin Felleke Yirgu; narrated by Beru Tessema

Highbridge, 2025; Bookshop.org⩘ ; audiobook: Soho Press, 2025; Libro.fm⩘ .

Full review: Oromay by Baalu Girma⩘ 

Character list

• Red Star Campaign, which [Wikipedia:] "called for the crushing of 'secessionist bandits', i.e. the EPLF guerrilla in Eritrea, the TPLF in Tigray and the EPRP and EDU in Gondar. The campaign was supposed to focus both on military means as well as supporting reconstruction in the affected areas."; formally known as the Eritrean Province Red Star Multi-Faceted Revolutionary Campaign (MFRC).
• COPWE (The Commission for Organizing the Party of the Working People of Ethiopia), assigned the task of leading the Red Star campaign
• Tsegaye Hailemaryam, propoganda chief (Head of the Red Star Campaign Political and Propaganda Initiatives Section)
• Roman Hiletework, Tsegaye's fiancée
• Asmara, main city in Eritrea
• Tedla Regassa, chief of protocol (real name: Fisaha Geda)
• The Derg military junta, the top leadership of Ethiopia
• Director Betru Tessema, chief spy for the Derg, Ministry of Public Safety, formerly known as the Ministry of Public Security; Head of Security for the Red Star Campaign (real name: Tesfaye Wolde-Selassie)
  
  • Agent Teklay Zedingl, one of the big city guys
  • Agent Seyoum Serekebirhan, short, dark skinned
  • Agent Ashebir, light-skinned young man
  • Major Garedew Mekonnen, Chief of Interrogation
• Metshafe Daniel, chief economist (real name: Fasika Sidelel)
• Yeshitla Masresha (aka, Suslov), chief ideologue
• Colonel Wolday Tariku, military leader; childhood friend of Tsegaye
• Firew Zerihun, photojournalist with Red Star; nickname: Mayor of Asmara
• Comrade Chairman, Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam
• Dimtsi Hafash radio, the insurgents radio station
• Major Koricho Tadesse, Chief of Army Aviation & Scheduling at Sembel Field
• Rezan Mihreteab, Tsegaye's secretary in Asmara
• Tsehaytu Beraki, a beautiful Eritrean singer
• Solomon Betregiorgis, head of COPWE in Asmara (real name: Dawit Wolde Giorgis)
• Fiammetta Gilay, woman Tsegaye Hailemaryam falls in love with in Asmara
• Silay Berahi, a double agent with Shabia and the chief of a cell operating in Asmara going by the code name of Oromay; spent time in prison with Agent Teklay Zedingl
• Fitwi Berhe, defector from the Jebha insurgent group, part of their internal security team
• Zeray Haleka, defector from the Jebha insurgent group, ran their political indoctrination program
• Mesfin Tsirui, defector from the Jebha insurgent group, was a "big shot"
• Colonel Alemayehu, Operation Lead
• The Shabia Oromay insurgent cell:
  
  • The Oromay mission has four parts: "First, if the fighting in Nakfa starts going against us, we'll launch major attacks in Asmara against the Red Star donkeys and open another front. Second, to sabotage their attempts at economic domination. Third, to inform the public of the dire reality of the situation, even if it causes a crisis. Fourth, to intensify our urgent intelligence and infiltration efforts."
  • Aboy Tekle, barista at Paradiso coffee bar who let's cell memebers into the "cave", a hidden basement room
  • Gebray Tekeste, member of the Oromay cell; code name: Arbate Asmara; basically, a hired killer; owner of the Paradiso coffee bar
  • Isayas Afewerki, Shabia Chief Secretary & Supreme Military Commander; has a close relationship with the CIA; Oromay cell reports to him
  • The Bureaucrat in Addis Ababa, unknown person who sends orders to Gebray Tekeste
  • Yohannes Asfiha, another member of Oromay
  • Zelalem, youngest member of Oromay
  • Ikuba ("Wedi") Arat, young Army Aviation mechanic, member of Oromay
• Alganesh, Fiammetta's long-time neighbor and close friend
• Yonas Darge, cameraman with Tsegaye on mission to Peak 1702

Full review: Oromay by Baalu Girma⩘