09/11/2023
In an attempt to conclude five years of insurgency in Oromia , the Ethiopian government and the Oromia Liberation Army (OLA) are engaging in a second round of talks in Tanzania
Designated a “terrorist organisation” by Addis Ababa, the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) has been in conflict with Ethiopian authorities since its 2018 split from the historic Oromo Liberation Front (OLF). Talks have been ongoing in Tanzania for ten days, with the main mediation conducted by Igad, the East African bloc, according to an anonymous diplomat.
Progress in the talks is reported to be positive, with both parties expressing optimism about a potential future agreement. A previous round of talks, held between late April and early May, resulted in persistent disagreement. Ten days later, the OLA accused the Ethiopian government of launching an offensive contrary to the “hoped-for de-escalation”.
Observers often characterise the OLA as a “franchise” with relatively autonomous groups, some with criminal motives, rather than a hierarchically structured movement. While its strength has grown, the OLA is considered insufficiently organised to pose a significant threat to federal power in Addis Ababa, despite the capital being surrounded by Oromia.
Oromia, covering about a third of Ethiopia’s territory and home to a third of the country’s 120 million inhabitants, faces complex challenges, including internal political struggles, territorial disputes, animosities between communities, and the recent development of armed banditry. The region has witnessed ethnic massacres, particularly in the Wollegas, targeting the Amhara, Ethiopia’s second most numerous people but a minority in Oromia.
The OLA has repeatedly denied government accusations of responsibility for these massacres. In turn, the government faces allegations of indiscriminate repression, contributing to Oromo resentment against the federal government. Ethiopia is further strained by numerous unrelated conflicts, often tied to identity claims or territorial disputes.
By Sara Hamrani