After Italy invaded Ethiopia in 1935, Moti Abba Jobir initially resisted the Italian occupation and fought against Italian forces. However, he later changed his position and sought to collaborate with the Italians.
Moti Abba Jobir’s decision to collaborate with the Italian authorities was complex and multifaceted. One possible reason for his collaboration was his desire to avoid being absorbed by the Solomonic dynasty, which had a history of expanding its control over neighboring kingdoms and territories. Collaborating with the Italians may have given Moti Abba Jobir the opportunity to retain some degree of autonomy within his kingdom, while also securing their support and protection against the Solomonic dynasty and other potential threats.
This colorised photo which appears in this article captures Moti Abba Jobir giving the fascist salute at a parade of cadets on April 9th, to show his loyalty and allegiance to the Italians. The visit was part of the Italians’ efforts to co-opt local leaders and gain support for their colonial project in Ethiopia. It is worth noting that Moti Abba Jobir’s visit to Italy was controversial, and many of his subjects and other Ethiopians saw it as a betrayal of their people and their country, in the sense that he was aligning himself with a foreign power that sought to colonize and exploit their land and resources.
After his return to Ethiopia, Moti Abba Jobir faced criticism and opposition from some of his subjects who saw his actions as serving the interests of the Italian colonizers rather than those of the Oromo people he was supposed to represent.
After the Italian occupation of Ethiopia ended, the Solomonic dynasty regained control of Ethiopia, including the region of Jimma, which had been under Italian occupation. Moti Abba Jobir Abba Dula, who had collaborated with the Italians during the occupation, was captured and imprisoned by forces of the Solomonic dynasty, which eventually became the government of Ethiopia after the Italian occupation ended.
Moti Abba Jobir Abba Dula was the last King of the Gibe Kingdom of Jimma (reigned 1932), and a member of the Oromo people. He was the grandson of Abba Jifar
Credit:@melanated facts
