Addis Abeba – The Oromia Regional Government announced that members of the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) have started moving into designated camps following a peace agreement signed on Sunday with a splinter group led by former OLA Central Zone commander, Sagni Nagasa.
In a statement released by the Oromia Communication Bureau on December 3, the government claimed that OLA fighters accepting the peace initiative “are now relocating to camps prepared for them.” While the exact number of those surrendering was not disclosed, regional media reported that over 800 fighters from districts in the West Shewa Zone, including Ginde Beret, Chobi, Elfata, Ambo, Midakegn, and Jibat, have responded to the call.
The main faction of the OLA, however, vehemently rejected these claims. In a statement issued on the same day, the group dismissed the reports as a “fabricated drama,” accusing the government of staging the events to discredit the Oromo liberation struggle. The statement alleged that “a counterfeit ‘Shene’ group” was being used to create the impression of surrender, asserting, “This is a baseless claim designed to mislead the public.”
The peace agreement was signed on December 3 by Oromia Regional President Shimelis Abdissa and Sagni Nagasa. However, its details remain undisclosed.
Sagni Nagasa, who broke away from the OLA earlier this year, had accused the group’s leader, Kumsa Diriba (known as Jaal Marroo), of authoritarian leadership and expressed his willingness to negotiate with the government.
The OLA, led by Jaal Marroo, has continued to criticize the peace deal, describing it as an agreement with individuals dismissed from their ranks for misconduct and lacking influence within the organization.
This development follows ongoing tensions and calls for peace amid the region’s prolonged instability.
