The Oromia regional administration has announced that peace talks with the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) are progressing well. However, OLA has rejected this claim, calling it “baseless.”
Oromia’s Claims
On November 28, 2024, the Oromia regional government stated that negotiations with OLA officers are ongoing. The government said these talks aim to resolve differences between the government and OLA, with the goal of achieving lasting peace.
The regional administration expressed confidence that the peace talks would lead to a successful agreement. The statement also mentioned that the Prosperity Party helped facilitate the second round of discussions between the government and OLA.
OLA’s Response
The following day, OLA rejected the government’s statements. The armed group specifically denied claims made by Oromia President Shimelis Abdissa, who said the government had financed and arranged the OLA delegation’s travel to Tanzania for peace talks.
OLA clarified that the trip was funded by international partners and conducted using assets from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). They also pointed out that the government’s own delegation was financed in the same way.
Accusations of Civilian Killings
The OLA also issued another statement accusing the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) of collaborating with Fano militia groups to carry out civilian killings in North Shewa. OLA claimed that ethnic Oromo civilians were killed for refusing to expose OLA members or hand over their weapons.
They also said the killings were intended to provoke ethnic violence between Oromia and Amhara regions.
Oromia Government’s Response
Hailu Adugna, head of the Oromia Communication Bureau, denied the OLA’s claims and blamed armed groups in both Oromia and Amhara for the civilian deaths. The Oromia regional administration did not specify which OLA members were involved in the peace talks.
Ongoing Tensions and the Call for Unity
The Oromia government reiterated its commitment to finding a peaceful solution to the region’s challenges. They stressed that military action is not the answer, but noted the difficulty of achieving unity amidst continued violence and division.
The administration also reflected on the past six years of conflict, acknowledging that while early political reforms brought hope for unity, the situation quickly deteriorated into confrontation.
