The area has been marked for three years by fierce fighting between government forces and the rebellion of the Oromo Liberation Army, the OLA. The region’s president called on the region for “reconciliation” and peace. And the OLA command, for its part, cautiously replied that it was ready.
“Before this respected parliament, on behalf of our people and with great respect, I would like to call on the armed groups operating in our region to reconciliation. This is the formula, prudent, chosen Saturday by the president of the Oromia region, Shimeles Abdisa, in front of his deputies, to evoke once again, and for the second time in a week, his desire for peace with the OLA.
In an interview last week, he called for “peaceful ways” to be followed, but without specifying which ones. O Shimeles Abdisa is close to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, whose chief of staff he was in 2019. And his vocabulary has changed.
The OLA command for its part, in a press release, warned that the call lacked “the clarity and nuance necessary to be optimistic”. But she recalled, however, that she was in favor of a negotiated outcome “from the start”. And she still welcomed “a civilized speech” and “good news”.
The OLA is still legally designated by Ethiopia as a “terrorist organization”. But this is also the case for the TPLF, the ruling party in Tigray, with which the Addis Ababa government signed a cessation of hostilities agreement on November 2 last.