ONLF Re-evaluates 2018 Peace Agreement with Ethiopia, Highlighting Unfulfilled Commitments
FILE – During a media chat, Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) spokesperson Abdiqadir Hassan Hirmooge, also known as Adani, expressed frustration. He highlighted Ethiopia’s shortcomings in honoring the 2018 peace pact, urging a reevaluation amidst escalating tensions.
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (AX) — The Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) has declared their intention to revisit the 2018 peace deal made with the Ethiopian government. They’ve pointed out the stagnant progress on numerous critical promises. While the accord formally concluded years of armed conflict, ONLF leaders contend that unfulfilled pledges jeopardize both the Somali region’s stability and the peace process’s future.
ONLF brass plans a special Central Committee (CC) session set for October 26-27, 2024, to scrutinize the 2018 agreement thoroughly. This meeting will tackle the current state of the peace treaty and strategize ONLF’s future as tensions mount across the Horn of Africa.
ONLF’s Abdiqadir Hassan Hirmooge (Adani) remarked that despite the group’s peaceful stance post-agreement, key commitments like reintegrating ONLF fighters and resettling displaced folks have fallen through the cracks. “Peace is our only win. Resettlement, reintegration, and addressing root issues of the conflict, those pledges remain unmet,” Adani shared with BBC brass.
The timing of ONLF’s decision coincides with Ethiopia navigating political shifts following recent leadership changes. “We cut Ethiopia some slack, considering their transitional saga, but given the Horn’s current challenges, we reckon now’s the moment to reevaluate,” Adani asserted.
The peace deal, inked in Asmara, Eritrea, back in 2018, sought to end ONLF’s lengthy armed quest for Somali self-rule in Ethiopia’s Ogaden region, guiding them toward a political course instead. The agreement opened doors for ONLF to engage in lawful Ethiopian political engagement. Yet, ONLF claims a mere 20% of the commitments have seen the light of day.
The urgent reassessment comes amid intensified tensions, fueled partly by inflammatory remarks from Ethiopia’s military top dog, General Birhanu Jula. In a September 2024 Ethiopian media snippet, he dubbed the ONLF an “enemy” allegedly backed by Egypt. ONLF rebuked these provocative comments, accusing Ethiopian powers-that-be of endangering the peace deal.
“We were gobsmacked by such declarations. Alleging our alliance with outsider forces to shake Ethiopia is not only untrue but a clear provocation,” stated Adani. Should the Ethiopian administration fail to correct these utterances, ONLF warns it could signify a withdrawal of recognition of the ONLF as a lawful political entity, risking 2018’s agreement and the peace it heralded.
In tandem with these events, ONLF accused Ethiopia of infringing on Somali rights, coercing elders and community members into denouncing their Somali heritage openly. Worries were also expressed over whispers that Ethiopia might alter the Somali State’s identity, its name, and flag, seen as a direct attack on Somali identity.
Besides unkept promises, ONLF flagged concerns over political clampdowns in Ethiopia’s Somali region. In the June 2024 Jigjiga elections, ONLF alleged governmental machinations, citing manipulation involving the transport of Prosperity Party (PP) supporters and threats of job loss aimed at government workers to sway votes toward the ruling Barwaaqo Party.
“The discrepancy was glaring. We were sure of our strong numbers, but official tallies skewed toward the Prosperity Party. It’s like being in a bustling market you dominate, yet district numbers magically tilt away,” Adani recounted.
ONLF has consistently championed the right to self-determination for the Somali people in the Ogaden region, as enshrined in Article 39 of Ethiopia’s constitution. This right assures self-rule for Ethiopia’s nations and regions, enabling choices on political autonomy, including the idea of secession.
On a 2023 tête-à-tête, Adani reiterated ONLF’s dedication to letting the Somali people opt between remaining a part of Ethiopia or pursuing independence. “Our journey is one of self-rule. The clock’s ticking for us to realize self-governance and autonomy. If we dawdle, chances love us goodbye,” Adani cautioned.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
