By John Ikani
Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, on Sunday, announced that his government has opened talks with the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), a rebel group that is active in the Oromia region, which is Ethiopia’s largest and most populous region.
In his speech, Mr Abiy revealed that the negotiation with Oneg Shene, which is another name for the OLA, would begin in Tanzania within two days.
He emphasized the importance of the negotiation process and implored all parties to play their part, stating that the Ethiopian government and people are in urgent need of peace.
Although the Prime Minister did not provide further details on the format and mediators of the talks, he stressed that everyone should remember that war does not benefit anyone.
The OLA released a statement on Monday confirming the talks, describing it as “a crucial and positive step towards establishing a lasting peace in the region.”
According to the statement, the government has accepted the rebel group’s terms for peace negotiations, which includes the inclusion of “a third-party mediator.”
It is worth noting that the OLA and the federal government have blamed each other for several attacks in the Oromia region.
The OLA claims to be fighting for the rights of ethnic Oromo people and was designated a terrorist organization by the federal government in May 2021.
Although the conflict between the OLA and the federal government is separate from the fighting in Tigray, the OLA formed an alliance with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in 2021.
