ONLF suspends participation in Ethiopia’s National Dialogue

ONLF suspends participation in Ethiopia’s National Dialogue

Source: Hiiraan Online, Monday October 21, 2024

Jigjiga (HOL) – The Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) has suspended its participation in the Ethiopian National Dialogue process, accusing the ruling party in the Somali region of breaching agreements made with political parties.

In a statement released on Sunday, the ONLF claimed that the ruling party unilaterally selected participants for the dialogue, excluding diverse voices and violated agreement on exclusivity.

“This exclusionary approach contradicts the very purpose of a National Dialogue, which is meant to bring together all stakeholders to address the root causes of conflict. Furthermore, with key political actors from Amhara, Oromia, and Tigray also absent and active conflicts ongoing, the current dialogue risks becoming one-sided and incapable of delivering genuine peace,” the statement said.

The ONLF reaffirmed its commitment to an inclusive, transparent, and genuine dialogue to achieve lasting peace in Ethiopia. However, they declared they would not participate in the current dialogue framework until such a process is reinstated.

The National Dialogue process was initiated to address the internal conflicts threatening to tear apart Ethiopia. Despite the efforts, the country remains embroiled in conflict, with the Tigray region devastated by civil war, the Oromo Liberation Army controlling parts of Oromia, and Amhara facing ongoing insurgency and martial law.