OLA's talks with Ethiopia collapse in Tanzania

Photo: Afropages

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia - Instability might persist in the Oromia region for a while following the collapse of talks between the Oromia Liberation Army [OLA] and the government of Ethiopia, with reports indicating the two parties did not come to any conclusive agreement in Tanzania.

On Tuesday, both parties announced the outcome, while insisting that the negotiations are critical for resolving a long-standing insurgency but have concluded in a stalemate. Ethiopia has been battling with internal conflict for the last two years.

Throughout this period, OLA, a splinter group of the Oromia Liberation Front [OLF], has been directly involved in the conflict within the region, making it difficult for the government to stabilize. The government of Ethiopia had designated the group as a terrorist organization.

Oromo people comprise 35% of the total population of Ethiopia and the region is home to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The region, despite producing the Prime Minister, has been the epicenter of clashes for several months.

National Security Advisor to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Redwan Hussein, attributed the failure of talks to the OLA's "intransigence" and "unrealistic demands." He emphasized that the Ethiopian government's negotiation approach was grounded in principles of national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and respect for constitutional norms.

But OLA accused the government of overlooking fundamental issues that fuel the country's ongoing security and political challenges. The negotiations come after Ethiopia also ended a deadly conflict in the Tigray region where thousands of people were killed.

In the neighboring Amhara state, recent clashes also left hundreds of people dead, triggering more pressure for a national dialogue forum in the country. Abiy Ahmed won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 for his efforts to end conflicts in the Horn of Africa.

Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, IGAD's Executive Secretary, called for a renewed commitment to the peace process, emphasizing the importance of dialogue in conflict resolution. The country is pushing for reconciliation, a move which Ahmed says would foster unity and stability.

GAROWE ONLINE