OLF-OLA slams Somali region’s restructuring as political provocation

766 Shares

FacebookFacebook messengerTwitterWhatsAppLinkedInTelegramEmail

Tuesday July 29, 2025

FILE - An Oromo demonstrator waves the OLF flag during a public rally in Ethiopia. The Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) has increasingly criticized the federal government over regional restructuring and alleged marginalization of Oromo communities.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (HOL) — Ethiopia’s Oromo Liberation Front (OLF-OLA) has condemned the Somali Regional State’s newly approved restructuring plan as a political conspiracy, warning that it could spark renewed conflict along disputed border areas with Oromia.

The plan, passed during the Somali Regional Council’s annual session, adds 14 districts to the region’s administrative map, raising the total from 95 to 109. Officials say the move is intended to enhance governance and improve access to public services.

Residents in Oromia’s Borana Zone have voiced opposition to the restructuring, with local reports suggesting demonstrations erupted earlier this week over fears of boundary changes. Protesters accused Somali authorities of redrawing regional borders without consultation, according to the BBC Somali Service.

“Our land is not up for negotiation,” some protesters chanted, according to local sources.

The Somali and Oromia regions have long disputed border demarcations, especially in areas critical for grazing and water access. Clashes between the two communities have led to repeated casualties and widespread displacement in recent years.

In a statement issued July 27, the Oromo Liberation Army (OLF-OLA) said the Moyale conflict was the “latest iteration of this reactionary inter-communal destabilization in the Oromo–Somali borderlands.” The group warned that the Somali region's actions were part of efforts by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government to fracture political unity in Oromia and sow division along ethnic lines.

“All signs of Oromo political and organizational crystallization represent a direct challenge to Abiy Ahmed’s rule,” the group stated, accusing the federal government of using divide-and-rule tactics to weaken Oromo unity and derail a pluralist movement.

“Abiy thrives on our mutual alienation,” the OLF-OLA statement added in a direct appeal to Somali communities, urging them to reject what it called “machinations done in your name.”

The statement also condemned efforts to inflame religious tensions in Arsi and Jimma, calling them part of a broader campaign to “disrupt the formation of a broader axis of resistance — a pluralistic yet cohesive movement transcending ethnic and religious particularisms.”

The group also addressed internal Oromo divisions, stating: “To the few Oromo actors who—whether knowingly or unwittingly—are aligning with the regime’s destructive agenda: pause and reflect.”

“From 2019/20, as OLA underwent a phase of rapid restructuring and reorganization to build a viable force, Abiy responded with a quintessential false flag operation by deploying state-sponsored counterfeit ‘Shene’ to carry out targeted violence against Amhara civilians,” the statement added. “This was also later weaponized to kick-start the Tigray War.”

The Somali Regional State has not publicly listed the 14 districts included in the restructuring, fueling further concern. Authorities in Oromia have yet to comment on the matter.

The OLF called on the federal government to intervene immediately and resolve the dispute before further violence occurs. “We urge the central authorities to act swiftly to protect civilians and restore order,” the statement said.

The OLF was originally an armed rebel group fighting for Oromo self-determination. It disarmed in 2018 after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, himself an ethnic Oromo, took office and invited exiled opposition groups to return and participate in the political process.

Despite laying down arms, the OLF has remained critical of the federal government, especially over what it describes as political repression and the detention of its leaders. The group boycotted Ethiopia’s 2021 national elections, citing an unfair political environment and restricted space for opposition parties.

The July 27 statement warned fellow Oromos not to align with Abiy’s administration, saying: “No Oromo demand will be met with Abiy in power.” The OLF-OLA also rejected any suggestion that Somali forces were acting independently, asserting: “There is no independent Somali force impeding on our borders. It is all done from 4-kilo and communicated through the state broadcaster.”

Oromo communities represent the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia but have long claimed marginalization by successive governments.

As of Tuesday, no timeline has been announced for implementing the Somali region’s restructuring.

Home
Email

Hiiraan Online