Ethiopia Continues Peace Discussions with Oromo Liberation Army to Address Domestic Conflict
Date
11/13/2023 7:48:11 AM
(MENAFN) Ethiopia's federal government and the Oromo Liberation army (OLA) have recommenced peace talks in Tanzania, aiming to find a resolution to a protracted conflict in the Oromia region. The negotiations, taking place in Dar es Salaam and mediated by a delegation from the US, the East African trade bloc IGAD, and Norway, seek to address grievances rooted in decades of alleged marginalization and neglect by the federal government in Oromia.
Representing the federal government are General Getachew Gudina, the Chief of Military Intelligence for the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF), and his deputy, Major General Demis Amenu. The talks come amid rising ethnic tensions and violence in Ethiopia, exacerbated by the recent conclusion of a two-year war in the Tigray region.
Oromia, Ethiopia's largest region surrounding the capital Addis Ababa, has been a hotspot for unrest, resulting in numerous deaths and displacements. The OLA, once the military wing of the previously banned Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), returned from exile following Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's ascent to power in 2018. The OLA has been accused by the government of involvement in recent ethnic violence in the region.
The negotiations mark a significant effort to address longstanding issues and bring stability to the region. The OLA, accused of perpetrating massacres, including targeted killings of the Amhara ethnic minority, has denied these allegations. The peace talks aim to navigate the complex historical and ethnic landscape of the Oromia region and contribute to a broader effort to foster peace and reconciliation in Ethiopia.
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