
“Thursday, March 31, 2022 (HOL) – ONLF Deputy Chairman Dahir Mohamed Ali speaking at a meeting in Jigjiga, said that the Ethiopian government has withdrawn from previous agreements between Ethiopia and the ONLF. He said that the relocation of troops and members of the group had not been implemented and that the organization’s offices in most of the Somali regional government had been closed, according to the statement. appointed Vice Chairman of ONLF. He also said that they will never allow the destiny of the people and the interests of the people to be pursued by anyone else” (Somalia Link – ‘ONLF: “We will not allow ourselves to be told that we are in the interest of your people’ 31.03.2022).
We know that during the reign of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali have been tormenting for the people of the Somali Region or the Ogaden in Ethiopia. The Prosperity Party has like it’s predecessor used the authorities and Liyu Police Force to silence dissidents in the region. There haven’t been any openness or peace.
Instead the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) and others has been targeted in the Ogaden. The are indications of extra judicial killings, pre-emptive arrests and detaining without trial. That is how the authorities are using their power and take control of the region. A region which has puppets and an imposed leadership over it.
The ONLF and other Somali Region parties haven’t been in the talks or been considered of late. The Congress of Somali Cause (CSC) is also a proof of that. Ogaden isn’t really represented by their own representatives, but instead just cronies of the regime in Addis Ababa. That’s why ONLF can speak out like this.
However, doing that doesn’t come with costs. The ONLF have people arrested and the authorities have blocked rallies. It is not allowed to operate like a party and that’s why it didn’t participate in the recent election. Just like other parties didn’t do as well. So, it is not like ONLF is alone with that. But only showing how the PP is acting and behaving in power. They have no bounds of using it against their dissidents. That’s why the PP and the Federal Government has withdrawn itself from the previous agreements. Since then they have no issues to decree and order the crackdown on ONLF. Instead of actually being in dialogue and trying to find balanced measures, which everyone could live with.
The Somali Region Local Government is more into getting more influence and riches, than actually serving the communities. That is how they are acting and this is why the voices of the region is silenced on the regular. Peace.












