The Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) has announced it will fully partner with forces seeking "real change" in Ethiopia, stating the federal government has failed to implement previous peace agreements and rejected genuine dialogue.
In a statement marking the 42nd anniversary of its founding in 1984, the ONLF declared it will no longer remain a spectator in determining Ethiopia's future. The group announced its readiness to collaborate with political factions committed to ending oppression, protecting civilians, ensuring equal rights, and facilitating inclusive political dialogue.
the group said in its statement.The Ogaden National Liberation Front has decided to fully participate with forces standing for real change to take effect in Ethiopia,
The ONLF stated, that its prior peace agreement with the Ethiopian government had created hope for resolving disputes through negotiation. However, the group alleged that commitments regarding regional administration, land, natural resources, and the future of the Somali people were not fulfilled.We will enter this new phase united, prepared, responsible, and committed to protecting the public.
the statement read, adding that the Ethiopian administration had rejected anPeace is not just a name; it needs justice, trust, accountability, and the implementation of shared agreements,
Reiterating its historical position, the ONLF official stated that the Somali region was forcefully annexed into Ethiopia without a referendum or public consent. The group warned, that any political transition in the country that fails to recognise this historical reality or address the demands of the Somali people will not result in a lasting peace.honourable peace.
The organisation clarified that its new alliances do not mean it will act as a tool for other political actors, stating it will bring its own historical grievances and regional demands to the negotiating table.
the ONLF stated, asserting that it does not seek revenge or further conflict, but a system guaranteeing security and dignity for all communities.We do not want old oppression to be replaced by new oppression,
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Why does the ONLF exist?
Look at these children. They are not asking for luxury. They are searching in the mud for water — the most basic necessity of life.
This is the reality endured by far too many rural Somalis in the Ogaden, while the Ethiopian state claims sovereignty over their land.
Sovereignty without responsibility is an empty claim. A state that claims a people and their territory must answer for their dignity, rights and basic human needs.
The ONLF struggle continues because these children matter. It continues so that the Somali people can determine their own future, control their resources and live with dignity in their own land.
Until their rights are secured, the reason for our struggle remains before our eyes.
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The Ethiopian Amhara militia Fano has established a unified national command and formed alliances with at least seven regional forces—including factions from Tigray, Oromia, and Somalia—with the objective of overthrowing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the group’s leader Zemene Kassie stated in an interview with the Swiss newspaper Le Temps.
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Kassie detailed that discussions with the various regional factions, which also include Gumuz and Sudanese forces, have concluded after seven to eight months of talks. He noted the newly formed alliance aims to coordinate actions not only for the current conflict but to construct a nation
Stating that his movement now comprises hundreds of thousands of fighters under a single command, Kassie amalgamated previous resistance groups from Shewa, Wollo, Gondar, and the Wellega area. He claimed Fano forces currently control more than 80% of rural areas and dozens of small towns, asserting that his fighters have engaged 10 of the 13 military commands deployed by the federal government.where it will be good to live, after the fall of Abiy Ahmed.
Kassie declared.We systematically have superiority on the battlefield,
Describing the movement’s motives, Kassie said Fano originated as a grassroots village uprising to defend the Amhara people from existential threats while fighting to prevent the disintegration of Ethiopia.As soon as we manage to completely break this security apparatus, it will be the end of the story.
he said.We are not only fighting for the Amhara people, but for freedom and equality for all nations and nationalities of Ethiopia,
Addressing the 2020-2022 civil war, during which Amhara factions supported the federal government against Tigrayan forces, Kassie asserted that Fano barely existed at the time and its participation was insignificant. He attributed historical grievances to the 27-year rule of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) under the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) coalition, which he said created problems of democracy and freedom.
