𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐍𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐧𝐬.

 "Our credible sources indicate that the top military leaders agreed to launch a new military assault with a "scorched earth policy" as a major military tactic to "wipe out" OLA from Oromia. "

OLF Statement on Ethiopian and Eritrean New Military Pact

OLA

The relationship between Ethiopia and Eritrea has passed through ups and downs. It has harbored one of the deadliest wars in which millions have lost their lives, economies devastated, and social fabrics damaged. Thirty-Year War of Eritrean liberation, the 1998-2000 so-called “border conflict”, and the 2020-2022 Tigray War are the best examples. The suffering and human rights abuses that the world recorded in Tigray yesterday resulted from ill-framed relations. The culture that makes war the only option to resolve incompatibilities should change for good.

OLF commends the peaceful resolution of the Tigray War and always encourages all parties to engage in constructive dialogue for enduring peace. OLF also strongly underscores that the end of one war should not lead to the beginning of another.

On 3 April 2023, delegates of Eritrean army generals and senior officials led by General Abraha Kasa, head of Eritrean National Security Agency visited Ethiopia. Eritrean Official Yemane G.Meskel reported that "the central purpose of the current visit is to further consolidate the ties of military cooperation between the two countries". While it is legitimate for countries to consolidate cooperation on any common concern, it is also clear that the military cooperation between Ethiopia and Eritrean has divulged the Ethiopian peoples and exacerbated misery in Tigray and Oromia. In Oromia, we have earlier warned that the Eritrean involvement, in alliance with the Ethiopian Army, in the war against the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) could only increase human suffering and would not produce any positive results at all. That is what happened in Oromia in the last four years.

It is a pity that the two countries’ military cooperation again overshadowed other burning issues. People of both countries are currently suffering from deprivation, hunger, displacement, lack of good governance, corruption and all forms of human insecurities. Sensible governments give priorities to these burning issues than forming a new military pact for further devastation.

Our credible sources indicate that the top military leaders agreed to launch a new military assault with a "scorched earth policy" as a major military tactic to "wipe out" OLA from Oromia. Top military leaders such as Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, Major General Abebawu Tadese and Colonel Tesfaye Ayaleu from the Ethiopian side and Major General Romadan Awliya, Brigadier General Hadish Ephrem and General Fissehie from the Eritrean side were given this responsibility. The OLF strongly condemns continued Eritrean involvement against the struggle of the Oromo People for freedom, democracy and justice.

It is also bewildering to note that the words and actions of the government of Ethiopia is self-contradictory. The statements from the Prime Minster Dr Abiy Ahmed and the Oromia Regional President Mr Shemelis Abdisa, on the federal parliament and regional council meetings, gives the impression that the government is taking action to resolve the war in Oromia peacefully. But the current military pact with Eritrea is a preparation for all-out military attack in Oromia.

Once again, the OLF would like to remind the Oromo people and the rest of the Ethiopian peoples that any unwarranted and hasty engagement with an external force against people they claim as their citizen, like the one that happened in Tigray, must be opposed and condemned. We also like to bring to the international community’s attention that another military buildup and coalition between Ethiopia and Eritrea against innocent and defenseless people will create another round of human suffering. The international community should use any leverage possible to abate it. Peace and security are the only mechanisms that guarantee the international community’s development assistance.

Victory to the masses!

Oromo Liberation Front

April , 2023

Finfinnee

Abiy Ahmed forces muss stop killing Karayyu abaa geda leaders

Another Karayyu Gadaa leader died after heavily beaten by the regime security forces

 As violence in Fentalle persists, another #Karayyu Gadaa leader died after heavily beaten by the regimes security forces.

Residents say Gobu Hawile a successor of the Karrayyu Gadaa leader who died during the 2021 massacre of the Karrayyu Gadaa leaders, died of injuries on Monday incurred when he was heavily beaten by government security forces over the last weakened.

The government forces had heavily beaten Gobu Hawile and other people who were with him in #Tututi village in Fentalle district of East Shewa zone #Oromia at a specific place known as Kaarra, a place where members of Karrayyu Gadaa leaders were massacred in 2021.

He added the son of Hawas Mato Borra, a senior Karrayyu Gadaa leader who was gunned down two weeks ago by militants from the neighboring region is among the victims of the beatings and he is currently lingering between life and death in a nearby hospital.

According to the VOA, another local elder Boruu Jille who survived the beatings is also in critical conditions and receiving treatments in Wolanchiti hospital.

A Karrayyu native and an indigenous people’s rights advocate based in the US expressed his concern that coupled with the ongoing drought, and lack of incoming aid, the persisted insecurity in the area, may result in disastrous consequences for the Karrayyu community and threaten their existence.

#justiceforkarrayyuuoromo #stopthearrest #stopthekilling #justice #democracy #FreeAlloromoPoliticalPrisoners

Senior Karrayyu Gadaa leader and survivor of 2021 massacre gunned down in latest clashes, residents suffering persistent violence, drought

  

Hawas Mato Borra, a senior member of the Karrayyu Michile Gadaa leaders in the Fantaalle district of East Shoa zone, in Oromia regional state, has been gunned down in the latest clashes last week.

Abba Gadaa Hawas was the last remaining survivor of the massacre of 14 Gadaa leaders, who were executed by members of the Oromia regional state police in December 2021. 

A resident who asked to be anonymous for safety reasons told that Hawas Mato Borra, in his early fifties, was shot by armed groups he described as militants on 12 March and died of his injuries two days later.

According to the resident, Hawas was herding cattle at a place called Kaarra, the same place from where the deceased Abba Gadaas were captured, when gunmen from the neighboring region launched an attack.

He further noted that there have been ongoing clashes between the Karrayyu community and the  militants who, according to the resident, have encroached massively into Karrayyu lands. 

A second resident who corroborated the circumstances of the killing of Hawas Mato Borra told that Hawas was among the 23 people who were captured with the 14 massacred members of the Karrayyu Gadaa leaders in December 2021, and released after months of imprisonment.

“He was a respected and loved man, he was a revered hero, someone the Karrayyu community looks up to in the absence of their Gadaa leaders,” the resident added.

He said there is a lack of action from the local administration and regional government of Oromia about the unabated attacks, land grabbing and looting of cattle perpetrated by the Amhara militants, further accusing government forces of committing atrocities in the name of hunting “Shene” a term the government uses to refer to rebel group Oromo Liberation Army (OLA).

“Government security forces are arbitrarily imprisoning, killing and disarming the Karrayyu community accusing them of sheltering “Shene” and as the community flees from one place to another to avoid colluding with government forces, the land they leave behind is getting occupied by the Amhara militants,” he said.

 Roba Bulga Jilo witnessed that, a Karrayyu native and an indigenous people’s rights advocate based in the US expressed his concern that coupled with the ongoing drought, and lack of incoming aid due to the persisted insecurity in the area, the renewed and ongoing clashes may result in disastrous consequences for the Karrayyu community and threaten their existence.

According to Roba there are over 60 Karrayyu men imprisoned in Matahara, the administrative seat of the Fantaalle district, and several others are “being brainwashed” in Xollay military camp. 

He said the imprisonment was to halt the commemoration of the first year anniversary of the Abba Gadaas massacre in December last year, adding that, “most of the sons and relatives of the fallen Gadaa leaders are kept behind bars”,

In February 2022, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) released a report on the killing of the Karrayu’s Gadaa leaders saying that there’s “reasonable ground to believe” that the killing of 14 members of the Gadaa leaders constitutes “extrajudicial killing” by security forces. It also urged that members of the security forces who committed the killings should be brought to justice and that the victims and families of the victims should be compensated.

OPEN LETTER Re: Upcoming Visit to Ethiopia by the US Secretary of State

 OPEN LETTER Re: Upcoming Visit to Ethiopia by the US Secretary of State

The Honorable Antony Blinken

Secretary of State

U.S. Department of State

2201 C Street NW

Washington, DC 20520

Dear Secretary Blinken,

The Oromia Global Forum (OGF) - a global alliance of Oromo civic, professional, faith-based organizations, prominent human rights defenders and activists, residing in North America, Europe, Australia, Asia, and Africa welcomes your upcoming visit to Ethiopia. It is a country that has been undergoing significant political, economic and social turmoil over the past several years. We understand that you will have a critical role to play in ensuring peace, security and stability in Ethiopia, and we hope that you will use this opportunity to advocate for the human rights and dignity of the Oromo people, the largest nation in Ethiopia and Horn of Africa.

The Oromo people have long suffered political persecution, economic exploitation, social discrimination, dehumanization and marginalization at the hands of successive Ethiopian regimes. Under the current leadership of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, thousands of unarmed Oromo civilians have been killed, over one million Oromos have been displaced by joint operations of Ethiopian armed forces, the security and extremist paramilitary Amhara Fano, and more than three million Oromos are suffering a devastating famine caused by a combination of natural drought and man-made, mismanaged policies. The Oromia Global Forum is calling on you to use your influence and position to pressure the Ethiopian government to take immediate action to address the following urgent concerns:

1. Release all Oromo political prisoners

The Ethiopian government has arrested and detained numerous Oromo activists, journalists, and opposition party members and leaders on charges of “terrorism” and other fabricated crimes. Many of these individuals have been subjected to torture, inhumane treatment, and lengthy periods of detention despite their cases being dismissed repeatedly by the courts. We urge you to press the Ethiopian government to release all Oromo political prisoners, including Abdi Regasa, Lami Benya, Dawit Abdeta, Kennsa Ayana, Michael Boran, Geda Oljira, Geda Gabbisa, and others who are currently languishing in Ethiopian prisons. The above listed Oromo Liberation Front [OLF] leaders were acquitted and their cases dismissed by the Ethiopian Federal Supreme Court and Oromia Regional Supreme Court but they are still kept in jail because the government refused to release them. We call on the Secretary of State to request the immediate release of these and all other political prisoners, and ensure the protection of their human dignity and safety. We also urge you to press the Ethiopian government to lift the house arrest on Mr. Daud Ibsa, the OLF leader, and all restrictions on the OLF members, including opening of their offices and conducting political activities freely.

2. Hold accountable those who are responsible for the killings of innocent Oromo civilians.

We are deeply concerned about the continued wave of violence against the Oromo people and other peoples, including the killing of six innocent Oromo people in West Shawa zone using aerial attack early this month, the killing of a health professional and entrepreneur Badhasa Akkasa, and the killing of three Oromo demonstrators in Guji who were protesting against the recent arbitrary re-demarcation of Oromia, and their towns and villages without any consultation with the affected people. We call on you to use the good offices of the Secretary of State to pressure the Ethiopian government to hold those responsible for these heinous crimes accountable and bring them to justice.

3. Bring an end to the denial and delaying of life-saving humanitarian aid Halt exportation of food while people are suffering from famine in Oromia.

The Oromo people are facing an acute humanitarian crisis due to drought and the government’s use of famine as a weapon of war against innocent civilians. Many Oromo farmers and pastoralists in Borana and Guji have lost their crops and livestock, leaving them without food and income. Despite this, the Ethiopian government continues to deny and delay the delivery of urgent humanitarian aid to the people and instead orchestrates the export of food to other countries, while thousands of Oromso are dying of hunger. At this moment, Ethiopia’s food export is driven by political propaganda, to give a false impression that the country is self-sufficient, in order to buy military equipment for its internal war on the people. We urge you to pressure the Ethiopian government to immediately stop denying and delaying the delivery of humanitarian assistance, to halt exporting food in order to provide for those who are miserably affected by famine in Oromia.

4. Negotiate with OLF-OLA to immediately halt/end the war in Oromia and resolve contentious political differences peacefully.

The conflict between the Ethiopian government and the OLF-OLA has caused immense suffering for the Oromo people at the hands of the Ethiopian government, including massive displacement, frequent drone attack and massacre, loss of life, and destruction of property. We call on you to pressure the Ethiopian government to immediately halt the ongoing war in Oromia and enter into a negotiated peace deal with OLF-OLA mediated by impartial and capable international third-party negotiators. The Ethiopian government must accept and respect the practical implementation of constitutional rights of the Oromo people to self-determination and work towards a lasting peace by resolving contentious political differences via popular decisions, rather than perpetuating destructive war and military confrontations with OLF-OLA and other political forces.

5. Open the political space, and enable access to the people and information on the ground.

The Ethiopian government has fully locked up Oromia. As a result, no single media, or human rights organization, nor humanitarian organization has access to the people on the ground to report the extreme human rights violations and humanitarian crisis in Oromia. The totalitarian practices of the dictatorial regime of Ethiopia, and its consequent complete blockage of information must end.

In conclusion, the Oromia Global Forum urges you to use your position and influence to advocate for the rights and dignity of the Oromo people and other peoples in Ethiopia. We hope that your visit will result in meaningful action and tangible improvements for the Oromo people and other marginalized populations, who have been suffering under successive tyrant regimes of Ethiopia, for far too long. The US commitment to democracy is being tested in the Ethiopian arena. The largest groups are yearning for democracy but that aspiration is suppressed at every turn.

Sincerely,

Residents say at least three killed in Guji zone following protests over decision to incorporate Negelle town into newly formed East Borana zone, #Oromia

 

Abiy Ahmed regime must Respect people's demand!

At least three civilians were killed, two were injured and several others were arrested in ongoing protests in the Guji zone, Southern Oromia, following the establishment of the new zone of ‘East Borana’, comprising 10 districts from Borana, Bale and Guji zones.

Residents say at least three killed in Guji zone, #Oromia following protests over decision to incorporate Negelle town into newly formed East #Borana zone
At least three civilians were killed, two were injured and several others were arrested in ongoing protests in the Guji zone, Southern Oromia, following the establishment of the new zone of ‘East Borana’, comprising 10 districts from Borana, Bale and Guji zones, residents witnessed.
The Caffee Oromia, on Monday, February 27, 2023, announced that, East Borana zone will be formed as the 21st zone of Oromia, and the former zonal capital of Guji zone Nagelle would be the seat of the administration of the newly formed East Borana zone, while the administration of the Guji zone moves to Adola Rede.
The decision which the regional parliament said was made “to respond to the long-standing demands of development, security and good governance of the people” was outright rejected by residents of the Guji zone leading to massive demonstrations in several cities and towns of the zone.
Boru Meshi, a native of Guji and a journalist who is closely following the issue, told that the reason for the protests was the announcement of the incorporation of three districts including Negelle, the capital of Guji zone, to the newly established ‘East Borana’ zone.
“Negelle is a town with a great history among the Guji people and it is a town that the people and intellectuals have paid a high price for. It is unacceptable to simply move it to another zone without consulting the people,” Boru said .
Following the decision of establishment of the new zone, protests have been going on in all districts of the Guji zone including Shakiso town, Bore and Adola Wayu districts, since Tuesday, Boru said, adding that three people, including two students, were shot dead and one injured in a clash between community police and civilians in Bore district on Tuesday.

Gelchu Boru, another resident, and a lawyer by profession, said the decision to include Negelle town and three districts from Guji to the East Borana zone faced strong and wide protests as it is “not in accordance with the culture, tradition and history of the people.”

Gelchu said, “the decision to add the capital and districts of Guji zone to another zone is not intended to provide faster services as the government claims but a conspiracy to destroy the sense of brotherhood between the communities of the two zones [Guji and Borana].”

“Negelle town is the center of culture, tradition and history of the Guji people,” Gelchu said, adding that the protests that started in Bule Hora district have spread to all districts of Guji zone following the announcement of the incorporation of Negelle town into the newly established zone. Gelchu said the decision was also opposed by intellectuals and the wider community of Guji zone.

He said civilians were also killed in the protests in these districts. “Four people were shot and three died in the Bore district. I also have information that one person was hospitalized after being beaten by police in Adola Wayu district. Many have been arrested.”

#stopthearrest #StopTheKilling #RespectPeoplesDemand #freeallolfpoliticalprisoners #justice #freedom #democracy

Four high-ranking officials of #OLF including EC member Kennasa Ayana critically ill inside prison, Abiy regime denied them treatment

 Four high-ranking officials of #OLF including EC member Kennasa Ayana critically ill inside prison, denied treatment

Free OLF prisoners 

Kennasa Ayana, member of the executive committee of the opposition Oromo Liberation  Front (OLF) and three other senior officials of the party who are also the party’s central committee members have been critically ill and denied urgent treatment, spokesperson of OLF Lemmi Gemechu witnessed. 

Kennasa Ayansa, Dawit Abdeta, Gadaa Oljirra (PhD) and Gadaa Gebissa who are currently detained at Burayu police station have all developed chronic diseases according to Lemmi.

“Kennasa Ayana and Dawit Abdeta suffered severe backbone injury, Gadaa Oljirra developed complications related to previous surgery while Gadaa Gebissa contracted Hepatitis B,” Lemmi said, adding that, one of the party’s five EC members, Kennasa Ayana, “has got his back injured severely, and he is unable to walk or stand”.

Lawyer of Kennasa Ayana, Tuli Bayisa, also told  that the police disallowed Kennasa from getting admitted to a hospital for an inpatient treatment which his physician prescribed for him. As a result he is not getting the necessary treatment and his health is deteriorating from day to day, he added.

“He[Kennasa] cannot afford to arrange transportation to and from the hospital every day as the detainee is covering all the costs on his own”, Tuli said.

In addition to the ailing four high-ranking officials, three other senior officials of the OLF remain incarcerated in Burayu police station, some of them despite repetitive court orders of their release, others without any prosecutions brought against them at all.

In May last year, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) released a report following an investigation into the detention of Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) leaders in various detention centers in Oromia. The report confirmed that many OLF leaders and members are “illegally detained” and subjected to abuse. 

The OLF has repeatedly demanded the release of its leaders who are in prison since 2019, accusing the police of torturing them while in detention.

#freeallolfpoliticalprisoners #FreeAllOromoPloticalPrisoners #justice #freedom #democracy #stopTheArrest #stopEviction

The Struggle for Freedom Will continue

The main reason of the first negotiation failure between PM Abiy's regime and OLA was the failure on the government’s side to uphold the agreement. The government declared war on OLA fighters in Wollegga. Some of those who returned from Eritrea and were stationed in Arsi were shot dead only fro asking minor questions. They poisoned those who returned heeding a call by Jawar Mohamed, Bekele Gerba and Abba Gada Beyene Senbeto. The government didn’t have the interest to obey the agreement and that’s what necessitated the armed struggle. It is not because the OLF fighters back then didn’t embrace the peaceful struggle but because the government made it clear that it was impossible.

Over the past four years the war in #Oromia has transpired significantly and became more complex. The OLA’s position is clear. It is fighting in the belief that anyone who stands against the freedom of the Oromo, is the enemy of the Oromo. This belief does not change because who controls the government power has replaced . The OLA fought the Dergue, it fought the EPRDF and it still is fighting. It is not about who took power, it fights for its demands. There are people who give up when they become ministers, those who abandon their demands when they enter the parliament. We have seen such people including from within the OLF, but the OLA believes that anyone who stands against the freedom of the Oromo is its enemy, whether a national group or an organization. 

Dhiigni Bilisummaaf dhangala’e Firii malee hin hafu! Lubbuun Biyyaaf dabartes Biyyummaa mirkaneessuun bara baraan yaadatamuun waan hafu miti!

Osoo seenaan hin jiraannee kan of yaadatu hin jiru. Eessaa fi maal keessa turre, eessaa kaanee eessa geenye, deemsa akkamii keessa qaxxaamurree iddoo har’aa kana jirraa kan nama qaabachiisu seenaa dha. Deemsa qabsoo bilisummaa Oromoo ABOn dursamu keessatti Oromoon bakka har’a jiru kana akka ga’uuf wareegamooti gama hundaa hedduun itti baasamanii ti. Deemsi seenaa kunis dhiigaan barraa’ani.

Isa fagoo dhiisnee isuma as kaluu kana keessattillee, Qeerroon/Dargaggootni Oromoo ABO jalatti ijaaramanii falmaa finiinsaa turan wareegama olaanaa baasaniiru. Dhiiga isaanii akka galaanaa jigsuun Bilisummaa fi Abbaa Biyyummaa Oromoof aarsaa ta’aniiru. Isaan kun yoom illee hin dagataman.

Barattootni/dargaggootni/qeerroon biyyaa fi sabboontotni FDG bara 2014 geggeeffame irratti wareegaman kan bakka biraa osoo hin daballe kan Amboo fi naannoo qofti 78 olitti lakka’aman. Dhiiga ijoollee Oromoo fi sabboontotaan harka isaanii kan dhiqataa turan, hawwii fi fedhii ummata Oromoo dura kan dhaabbatan har’a illee sirna PPtti maxxananii ABOtti kan dhagaa guuraa oolan hedduutu jiran. Qaroo ijoollee Oromoo mirga saba isaaniif falmanii wareegama gootaa baasaniin kan ajjeefaman kashalabbootaa fi hattoota jedhanii dirreetti abaaraa turan. Warri akkasii har’as PP keessatti iddoo qabu. Har’as waanuma kaleessa baranii fi hojjetaa turan yaadaan dhiibu.

Sirni Bilxiginnaa dhiiga ijoollee Oromootiin barcuma aangoo ho’ifataa jiraachuun waan dhokataa osoo hin taane, waan dirree jiraa ti. Dhiiga qulqullootaa falmaa mirga abbaa biyyummaaf dhangala’e kanaan aangootti ol ba’anii deebisanii dhiiga kana kabaja dhorkatuun dhiiga biraa jigsuun yakka yakkaan olii ti. Gaafatama jalaas kan isaan baasu miti.

Waggoota 10 fi 15n dura wayyaanotni/EPRDF qabsoo Oromoo if booda deebisuuf yeroo sab-boontota Oromoo/barattoota Oromoo akka baalaa gadi haamaa turan hireen bara 2018 sun waan isaan mudatu itti fakkaachaa hin turre. Warri har’aa PPnis waanuma walfakkaataa deemsisaa jiran. Xumura isaa walumaan ilaaluutu dansa.