Sunday March 23, 2025
Abdilqadir Hassan Hirmoge, spokesperson for the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), speaks during an interview on the Abdijaliil Show, where he accused the Ethiopian federal government of exploiting natural resources in the Somali Region and warned of potential renewed resistance if the 2018 peace agreement continues to be undermined. CREDIT / Abdijaliil Show
Mogadishu (HOL) — The Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) has accused the Ethiopian federal government of exploiting natural resources in the Somali Region without local consent, warning that continued marginalization could lead to renewed instability and a collapse of the fragile 2018 peace agreement.
In an interview with Abdijaliil Show, ONLF spokesperson Abdilqadir Hassan Hirmoge (commonly known as Adani Hirmoge) said the ceasefire the group agreed to was intended to allow ONLF and the Somali Regional Government to jointly pursue their rights. However, he accused the region, led by President Mustafa Muhumed Omar (Mustafa Cagjar), of acting as a proxy for the federal government in Addis Ababa.
He added that the Somali Regional Government was refusing to unify the Somali people of Ethiopia, saying the ONLF had envisioned a collective front with the people, their local government, and ONLF united in demanding their rights from the federal government.
"When we laid down our arms, our goal was to seek our rights together with the regional government. We didn't surrender to be co-opted by Ethiopia—we made a concession, but that concession was rejected and we did not expect that," said Hirmoge.
When asked whether it was a mistake to disarm in the first place, given that the peace agreement failed, Hirmoge said they would not hesitate to take up arms again if the terms of the deal continued to be violated.
"In the past six years, apart from the peace we brought, there's been no real political or socio-economic development," Hirmoge added, dismissing claims by Somali Region President Mustafe Muhumed Cagjar that his administration has achieved progress in the region.
Meanwhile, President Cagjar has accused ONLF of representing only one clan in the region, arguing that it cannot claim to speak for the entire population unless it addresses this issue.
The accusations follow a controversial meeting between Somali regional officials and Chinese energy firm Poly-GCL, which is involved in oil and gas exploration in the Ogaden Basin. ONLF condemned the engagement as a form of "resource plunder" and warned the company of "repercussions" should it proceed without the approval of the Somali people.
The 2018 agreement between ONLF and the Ethiopian government marked the end of a protracted insurgency and was intended to integrate the group into political life. It also promised greater regional autonomy, particularly over resource management and the reintegration of former fighters."
However, ONLF claims that the federal government has reneged on these commitments by blocking the group's legal recognition through the National Election Board, failing to reintegrate former combatants as promised, and subjecting its members and supporters to harassment. The group also accuses state media and senior military officials of publicly branding ONLF as an "enemy" of the state, further undermining the spirit of the 2018 agreement.
ONLF's internal leadership has also come under scrutiny. Earlier this month, a faction based in Nairobi declared the peace deal defunct, accusing the government of systematically dismantling the agreement. The ONLF Central Committee in Jigjiga swiftly rejected the Nairobi faction's statement, calling it unauthorized and reaffirming its commitment to the 2018 accord.
The federal government and state-run media have dismissed ONLF's claims as politically motivated.
Despite the divisions, ONLF has begun public consultations with Somali communities across the diaspora and plans to hold a Central Committee meeting in April to determine its political strategy.
Founded in 1984, ONLF waged a campaign for Somali self-determination in Ethiopia for more than three decades.