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ONLF accuses Ethiopia of violating 2018 peace deal, threatens ‘alternative avenues’
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    Sunday March 2, 2025


    Somali regional administrator Mustafa Omar (center) reportedly meets with individuals presented as Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) representatives in a gathering allegedly orchestrated under Ethiopia’s direction. The ONLF has accused the Ethiopian government of acting in bad faith and suppressing genuine Somali political participation.

    Mogadishu (HOL) — The Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) has accused the Ethiopian government of abandoning the 2018 peace deal, alleging systematic suppression of Somali political participation and marginalization under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s administration.

    The ONLF, which signed the agreement to end its decades-long insurgency in Ethiopia’s Somali region, said in a statement Friday that the federal government had failed to honour key provisions. It claimed that Ethiopia blocked its legal recognition through the National Election Board, prevented the reintegration of former combatants, and misused the group’s name in international engagements without genuine political inclusion.

    “Abiy Ahmed’s government has turned its back on peace and democracy, replacing them with repression, deception, and centralized control,” the ONLF statement said. It accused the Ethiopian government of shutting out independent Somali voices while increasing political and economic restrictions on the region.

    The ONLF’s grievances have intensified following controversial remarks by Ethiopian National Defense Forces Chief of Staff General Berhanu Jula, who allegedly referred to the ONLF as an “enemy” of Ethiopia and accused the group of being historically supported by Egypt. The remarks, aired on Ethio-Forum on September 8, 2024, have since circulated widely on social media.

    The ONLF called for immediate clarification and retraction from the Ethiopian government, warning that such rhetoric threatened the fragile peace accord. “To suggest that we are aligned with external forces to destabilize Ethiopia is both false and a deliberate provocation,” said ONLF spokesperson Abdulqadir Hassan Hirmooge (Adani) in an interview with the BBC.

    The ONLF maintains that it has upheld all obligations of the 2018 agreement, which granted it political recognition and ended decades of armed resistance. However, the group argues that Ethiopia’s actions—including harassment of ONLF members, blocking political participation, and increasing economic restrictions in the Somali region—constitute a breach of the agreement.

    “If the Ethiopian government fails to address this issue promptly, it could signify that they no longer recognize ONLF as a legitimate political party, but rather as an enemy,” the statement read.

    The group further alleged that ONLF members and supporters have faced harassment from the Somali regional administration, which it claims enforces federal policies aimed at silencing opposition. The statement also criticized Ethiopia’s refusal to engage in substantive dialogue on key issues, including Somali territorial integrity, control over natural resources, and fundamental political and human rights.

    The accusations come after Ethiopia recently announced its readiness for renewed talks. The federal government nominated a delegation for negotiations in Nairobi, but ONLF claims Addis Ababa later abandoned the process. The Somali regional president, it added, staged a public event falsely suggesting progress in discussions.

    The Ethiopian government has not responded to the latest allegations. However, in previous statements, Addis Ababa has denied similar claims, maintaining that it remains committed to the peace deal and regional stability.

    The ONLF warned that it is now exploring “alternative avenues” to secure self-determination and the rights of the Somali people. Analysts suggest that the breakdown of the peace agreement could heighten instability in Ethiopia, which is already grappling with multiple internal conflicts.

    Founded in 1984, the ONLF fought for self-determination in Ethiopia’s Somali region before signing the 2018 peace agreement, ending armed hostilities and transitioning into political participation. The group now argues that the Ethiopian government’s failure to uphold its commitments casts doubt on the accord's future and regional stability.

     





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