Ethiopia needs a comprehensive peace process in order to find a way out of the current quagmire.

 Ethiopia needs a comprehensive peace process in order to find a way out of the current quagmire.

There are multiple political, governmental and non-governmental armed and non-armed forces in the country.

Some key examples of armed Forces:

1. Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) is federal armed force;

2. Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) is a non-governmental regional armed force;

3. Tigray Defense Force (TDF) is regional governmental armed force;

Any foreign governments and non-government entities interested in assisting Ethiopia reconcile with itself and ultimately achieve a sustainable peace for the people SHOULD NOT ignore any of these forces.

In fact, any national dialogue should prioritize all of these forces along non-armed political parties.

Recently, Facebook App or Meta decided to ban Oromo armed group from this virtual space. I strongly believe that is a wrong policy direction for Facebook and ultimately achieves nothing for Oromo and Ethiopia in general.

I’m strong believer and apostle of non-violent political resistance. There shouldn’t be any exception to that principle. However, Oromo armed group is a pro-democratic liberation force that is struggling to bring a sustainable peace for the Oromo people, just the same way Tigray Defense Force (TDF) is going.

For the sake of comprehensive peace, we can’t afford to eliminate them from this virtual space. The country benefits from hearing from them and what they stand for.

It is completely unfair for Facebook to ban Oromo Libration force from this space while other forces are allowed to keep using this platform, rightfully.

Part of the problem with Facebook’s decision goes back to cultural and knowledge gap that exists in the process of social media policy crafting for foreign users.

Even though Oromo content moderators were recently hired by Facebook to fill this gap, they aren’t doing a good job for reasons not clear to most of us.

Fist of all, they come with their own political baggage and biases against the Oromo people. Therefore, it is easy for them to unduly flag anything related to Oromo Liberation force.

Second, they come with little knowledge about the history of Oromo liberation struggle. They don’t seem to understand the complex political issue of the state of Ethiopia and how it interacts with the Oromo. There has always been a difficult political interaction between Ethiopian state and the Oromo people.

This task requires a meticulous understanding and sharp knowledge of the country’s politics. Knowledge of social media content moderation doesn’t cut it.

This is a plea to Facebook/Meta to reconsider its recent decision on Oromo Liberation Force.

For the sake of broader opportunity to try to bring peace in the country, Facebook should look deeper into the matter of Oromo liberation force.

The Government of Dr Abiy Ahmed and his Prosperity Party are Responsible for continued Cold Blood Murders of Oromo Civilians in East Wallaga – Oromia.

 The Government of Dr Abiy Ahmed and his Prosperity Party are Responsible for continued Cold Blood Murders of Oromo Civilians in East Wallaga – Oromia.

OLF , 2021

The OLF was strongly denouncing the repeated massacres of Oromo civilians by the central government budgeted Amhara Special Forces (aka Amhara Militias). Although using ethnic conflict as a political tool is a common policy of Ethiopian ruling system, the extent and frequency of the current conflicts are extremely high. It is to be remembered that the Amhara Militias had been deployed to Oromia and Benishangul_Gumuz Regions several times on their own as well as in coordination with Federal Forces and the Eritrean armed forces. To mention some of the recent ones: in the months of March and April 2021, large number Amhara Militias armed with heavy weapons opened fire on Oromo residents in East Wallagga in places known as Wast, Siredoro, Hagamsa, and Haroo/ Lalisee towns and they killed many Oromo civilians. At the same time, many Battalions of Eritreans were deployed to Metekel Zone, Benishangul Gumuz and East/West Oromia regions including Qellam Wallaga and West Wallaga Zones, Shashamane, Guji and Borana Zones and committed many killings.

Particularly the civilian killings increased sharply since Dr Abiy Ahmed vowed in public that he would deploy Amhara Militias to restore law and order in other regions of Ethiopia and his deputy PM, Demeke Mekonnen, highlighted providing firearms and training to the Amhara people to “defend themselves,” implicitly to realize their territorial expansion project to other regions. To the contrary, it is observable truth that the Oromo people had no right to have firearms and had been confiscated all sort of implements including machetes they use for farming and even banned from holding sticks that is a traditional way of life for Oromo men. This clearly indicated that this is intended not only undermining other regional polices but giving vital role to the Amhara militias that is being used to destabilize other peoples.

Although Amhara Militias massacring civilians repeatedly happened in Oromia, the OLF is immensely shocked by this round of brutal massacres of Oromo Civilians in East Wallagga in the last three days. According to the information we received, in the last two days (October 10 and 12, 2021), 40 Oromo civilians were murdered in cold blood in East Wallagga alone. On 10 October 2021, 25 Oromo civilians were brutally murdered by heavily armed Amhara Militias in Haro District of East Wallagga. The civilians were killed in extreme cruelty including massacre of nine people in one place. Out of the twenty-five victims twenty had their throats slit opened, and five were gun shot. Fourteen of the bodies have now been eaten by stray dogs as the gunmen refused to allow burial. We have received the details of eighteen people out of twenty-five killed in Haro District. According to the information the age range of the victims were 12 to 70 years old. Eight are Female and ten are male. Similarly, on 12 October 2021, 15 Oromo civilians were massacred by Amhara Militias in districts of Kiramu and Guto Gidda in a town called Luugoo, East Wallagga. These include the former Luugoo town administrator aged 55 years old; 60 years old man a father of five children; 70 years old woman and 17 years old young person.

In addition, in separate incident, the recently discovered bodies in Borana Zone are shocking news. According to the report issued by Prisoners’ Rights Campaigners on 13 October 2021, two Oromo young civilians known as Boruu Guyyoo and Derejjee Biraanu had been taken out of the Hiddi Lolaa Prison, in Miyo district of Borana and killed in cold blood by the PP soldiers and buried in unknown place. After long time searches by the victims’ families, the bodies of the two Oromo civilians were recovered on 13 October 2021.

OLF would like to express its condolences to their families that might have been affected by this brutal Massacre of Amhara Militias and PP soldiers. In addition, we want to make clear that the identities of the victims that were not known so far would be verified at the right time. The OLF strongly condemn these expanding brutal acts of terror by the PP government soldiers and its appendage Amhara Militias that is creating havoc throughout the country.

We would like to express our deep concern that Dr. Abiy Government’s actions of intensifying ethnic conflicts for political objective will lead to catastrophic ethnic genocide and put the country and the region in irreversible danger.

Therefore:

1. We call for independent investigation into these Massacres of East Wallaga regions so that it will be clear to the Ethiopian peoples as well as to the international community.

2. We inform the Ethiopian peoples and the international community that Dr. Abiy’s government and his prosperity party should be accountable for all the lives lost due to inflaming ethnic conflicts and should refrain from future atrocities that might happen due to actions of his ill motivated partial Government of Prosperity Party.

3. We would like to strongly remind the Oromia citizens that you do not have a government to protect you. OLF was informing you this for long time. Lack of Oromia regional governance exposed it to invasion by other regional forces, namely, Amhara regional government militia. The Amhara regional state as a core of ruling property party is supported by Central Government of Dr. Abiy that repeatedly deployed Militias to break the Oromo people’ lives. Thus, we would like to remind the Oromo people again that you must strengthen the Oromia Regional State National Transitional Government and protect yourself from regional invasion and restore peace and security in your region.

4. We continue to urge the international community to take practical actions using all tools available to pressure the Government of Dr. Abiy to respect human rights, and refrain from inciting genocide between nations and nationalities that would have catastrophic outcome for Ethiopian peoples and detrimental impact on peace and security in the region.

5. We also ask the international community to urge Dr. Abiy to abide by the Ethiopian Federal Democratic Republic constitution, and respect national, regional, and international laws on human rights and people’s rights.

In conclusion, the OLF requests the Amhara Regional Government to immediately withdraw Amhara Militias from Oromia regions as continuation such irresponsible actions will have more grave consequences for the people it claims to represent.

Victory to the Masses!

Oromo Liberation Front

October 2021

The Prosperity Party has no Right to Misuse and Abuse the OLF name and defame the Oromo people

 The Prosperity Party has no Right to Misuse and Abuse the OLF name and defame the Oromo people

OLF Statement

The OLF has repeatedly informed the Oromo and peoples of Ethiopia and the international community that the Ethiopian national election held on June 21, 2021, was totally unacceptable by any standard as the process and outcome. It was sub-standard and immoral. The election doesn’t correspond to free and fair election standard. From the beginning to end the process and outcome of the election was full of irregularities and in total delusion.

Literary there was no Election that took place in FDRE Ethiopia as the ruling group claim but it was drama planned and executed by the ruling group to manipulate and misuse the democratic process for their own objectives. The election was an event in which the Prosperity Party (PP) has turned itself into the ‘government’ to trickster the Ethiopian peoples, particularly the Oromo people. In the first instance, the establishment of the PP itself was illegal as there was no constitutional mandate for Dr Abiy Ahmed to dismantle the EPRDF without following legal procedures and replace it by Unitary Prosperity Party. This illegal party has no mandate to rule the country or to organize the national election. In addition, there were series of constitutional crises since Dr Abiy came to power and clear manipulation of resources and power to institute the party (the Prosperity Party) as the Government using sham election. The democratic institutions, such as electoral board, were handicapped and arms twisted systematically to fit to the PP’s Objectives. There was no participation of opposition parties in the election as they were intentionally marginalized from the beginning and ultimately pushed away. In this regard the Ethiopian peoples and the world community know that OLF had been forcefully pushed out of the election. Similarly, the OFC had been pushed out in a similar manner. Even other nominal opposition parties who have loyalty to the PP, but had little divergent ideas, had been either systematically pushed away or harassed during the election.

The election was also conducted intentionally under intense and chaotic security situations and in conflict environment. During the election there were widespread large-scale war between the ruling group and insurgents in many parts of the country including Western Oromia, Southern Oromia, Northern Oromia, Central Oromia, Afar and Ogaden regions and the conventional war in the Tigray region in the Northern Ethiopia. The election was carried out while many parts of Oromia are under military command post and while intense fighting between insurgents and the government forces were taking place in many parts of the country. The people in conflict zones were unable to go to election poles; the polling stations were fully controlled by loyal PP soldiers; there were no independent observers as many international community observers boycotted. Surprisingly, in many places the supporters of the PP were assigned as observers. Those who managed to attend the polling stations gave their vote under fear and intense pressure as they had been threatened by the soldiers of the ruling party and enforced directly or indirectly to vote for members of the PP. In general, the election was carried out under war and conflict, coercive environment, and strict control of the ruling group. In general, the Prosperity Party conducted the June 21, 2021 election without any competition and declared it-self a landside winner.

Currently, Dr Abiy’s unitary party renewed itself and Dr Abiy is forming a government to realize their objective. In this process we denounce, in a strict possible terms, the misuse and abuse of the OLF name and the Oromo people in the process of the so-called government formation of bogus coalition. The Government of Dr. Abiy is trying to deceive the Oromo people and the international community by illegally using the OLF name for legitimacy. This is particularly abuse of the intelligence of all and demeaning to the Oromo youth who sacrificed thousands of their precious lives to overthrow the TPLF-EPRDF led ruling party and gave Dr Abiy an opportunity to come to power.

Hence, we want to remind all peoples of Ethiopia to seek solutions for these repeated and perennial crises facing our peoples and the country. And therefore, we strongly call peoples of Ethiopia and political parties to focus on the following resolution and work toward its implementation without any further delay:

1. We reiterate that the Oromia citizens strengthen the Oromia Regional State National Transitional Government to restore peace and security in their region and to provide meaningful hope to citizens.

2. We would like to urge the Ethiopian peoples to pave the way for the Establishment of Government of National Salvation of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia as per the Ethiopian constitution by involving multi-nation societies and work together for peace and stability and organize free and fair election that reflect the long aspirations of Ethiopian peoples.

3. We urge the international communities to unite in seeking lasting solution to multifaceted crisis in Ethiopia and pressure all the stakeholders for peace and security and to establish a transitional system that paves the way for political dialogue.

Victory to the Masses!

Oromo Liberation Front.

PROTESTS BREAK OUT AT IRREECHA HORA FINFINNE FESTIVAL IN ETHIOPIA’S CAPITAL Finfinne

 

Protests calling for the release of political prisoners, PM Abiy Ahmed downfall and praising the Oromo Liberation Army commander widely known as Jaal Maroo broke out in Addis Abeba today in the midst of Irreecha (The Oromo Thanksgiving) 2021 celebrations. 

In a heavy presence of federal police,  people gathered in the early hours of the morning at Hora Finfinne in the center of the Capital Addis Abeba to perform rituals. Not long after,  protesters started shouting slogans like “Jawar, Jawar, Jawar”, “Down Down Abiy”, and “Maroo”.

Sources on the ground told that although the security apparatus response has been measured so far, injuries have occurred and those injured have been moved to Zeweditu Hospital and the police made arrests at the premise of the festival at Meskel Square.

Despite the Irreecha festival evolving through the decades into a platform for the Oromo youth to express their concerns about the existing political and subsequent economic and social challenges their communities face. 

Today is the first day of a two day  celebration at Hora Finfinne in Addis Abeba and Hora Arsadi in Bishoftu city (47 km south of Addis Abeba), the celebration will move to Bishoftu to perform final rituals at Lake Hora tomorrow morning.

Ethiopia expels seven UN staff, including #UNICEF country representative

  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, said it has issued in letters today declaring a “persona non grata” for seven individuals who the Ministry said are working for various UN affiliated organizations working in Ethiopia “

#US, #EU, #Germany & #UK condemn #UN staff expulsion, ask Ethiopia to reverse decision; US threatens to use Executive Order

The Embassy of the United Kingdom said, “Humanitarian partners to Ethiopia are concerned by the expulsion of individuals working for the United Nations (UN) who are essential to providing life saving assistance to millions of Ethiopian citizens throughout the country,” adding, “Ethiopia is in the midsts of multiple humanitarian crisis. The UN delivers principled humanitarian aid, addressing needs on a neutral, impartial basis.”

Before calling on the Federal government to reverse its decision, the statement read, “We call on the government of Ethiopia to reverse this decision with immediate effect.”

Echoing the British government calls, the German Embassy in Addis Ababa on its part said, “As one of Ethiopia’s largest humanitarian partners, we share Antonio Guterres’ concern about expulsion of UN staff in Ethiopia who are essential to provide lifesaving humanitarian aid to millions of Ethiopians,” adding, “ Germany ask the government of Ethiopia for expulsions to be reversed.”

The UN Secretary General António Guterres said he “was shocked by the information that the Government of Ethiopia has declared seven UN officials, including senior UN humanitarian officials, as persona non grata.”

He also said the UN was now engaging with the Government of Ethiopia in the expectation that the concerned UN staff will be allowed to continue their important work.

In early August Ethiopia has temporarily suspended #MSF Holland, the #Norwegian Refugee Council and Al-Maktoume humanitarian operations in Ethiopia.