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Ogaden National Liberation Front

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Ogaden National Liberation Front
Jabhadda Wadaniga Xoreynta Ogaadeeniya
الجبهة الوطنية لتحرير أوجادين
AbbreviationONLF
LeaderAbdirahman Mahdi
Founded1984
Split fromWSLF
IdeologySomali nationalism
Political positionCentre-left
ColorsGreen,Blue,Red
Seats in theHouse of Federation
0 / 112
Seats in theHouse of Peoples' Representatives
0 / 547
Party flag
Website
http://onlf.org/
Politics of Ethiopia
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Foreign relations
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TheOgaden National Liberation Front(abbreviatedONLF,Somali:Jabhadda Wadaniga Xoreynta Ogaadeeniya;Arabic:الجبهة الوطنية لتحرير أوجادين,romanized:Al-Jabhat al-wataniat litahrir 'Awjadin) is a social and political movement, founded in 1984 to campaign for the right toself-determinationforSomalisin theOgadenorSomali RegionofEthiopia.Its armed wing, led by Ogaden national army waged an insurgency against the Ethiopian government from 1994 to 2018.

Background

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The ONLF, established in 1984, demanded for the autonomy of this region and began an insurgency in 1994 aimed at Ethiopian forces in the area, which the government considers a region under the new federal system.

The ONLF is composed mainly of members of the somaliOgaden clan.[1]The armed wing of the ONLF was the Ogaden National Liberation Army (ONLA). Supporters of the ONLF generally aspire to create an independent, sovereign Somali-majority state consisting primarily of what is now Ethiopia'sSomali Region.ONLF supporters generally refer to the entire area of this future state asOgadenorOgadeniaeven though the name is controversial among some groups because of its clan-affiliation. The ONLF ostensibly exists to allow the inhabitants of Ethiopia'sSomali Regionthe ability to freely determine their own future and has thus has taken few public positions with regards to how a future state ofOgadeniawould be administered. That said, the ONLF has fostered the creation of a national consciousness among Ethiopia's Somali inhabitants by adopting a national flag forOgadeniaand promoting anOgadennational anthem,Qaran(before the adoption ofQaran,the Ogaden national anthem used by some separatists wasAbab).[2]Furthermore, the ONLF has an official political programme in which it commits to, among other things, protecting freedom of religion, democratic activity, and the women, children, and minorities ofOgaden.[3]

Ogadenia confusion

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The ONLF mostly recruits from theOgaden (clan)of Somali people, which constitutes roughly 2/3 of the regional population.[4]However, many other Somali clans and sub-clans reside in the area, and animosity between the pro-ONLF Ogadenis and other Somali clans in the area remains very deeply rooted. For many, calling the region "Ogaden" is "rightly or wrongly, associated with majority rule by the Ogaden clans, respectively with their claim for power within the Somali Regional State".[5]The Ethiopian government has exploited these rivalries by arming minority Somali militias to fight the majority ONLF.[4]Yet, some Ogaden members have pushed for other Somali clans getting represented in the regional government.[6]Writer Mohamed Mohamud Abdi argues that the territory has been under occupation since theScramble for Africa,and that the inhabitants have been unable to choose their own nameOgadeniafor the land.[7][self-published source?]

History

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Founding and formation

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Following the 1977-1978Ogaden War,many supporters of theWestern Somali Liberation Front(WSLF) became disillusioned with the organizations increasing reliance on Mogadishu and were frustrated by international portrayals of the struggle in the Ogaden as merely a border matter between Ethiopia and Somalia. The ONLF was founded in 1984 by six disaffected members of the WSLF:Abdirahman Mahdi,Mohamed Ismail Omar,Sheikh Ibrahim Abdallah Mohamed,Abdi Ibrahim Ghehleh, Abdirahman Yusuf Magan andAbdulahi Muhammed Sa'adi.The organization was immediately banned by the government ofSiad Barre.[8]

In 1988, the Barre andMengisturegimes came to an accord not to support insurgencies in each others territories. TheWSLF,ONLF, and other liberation groups issued public declarations condemning the Somali governments new stance on theOgaden.After putting significant pressure against the WSLF, the Somali government effectively dismantled it that same year. To the ONLF and many Somalis in the region, the agreement confirmed that the Somali government was no longer sincere about the liberation struggle. Consequently, the 1988 accord improved the organizations prospects for mobilization.[9]As the Somali state collapsed at the end of 1990, the US government had resolved to avoid a similar fate in Ethiopia post-Mengistu. On 27 May 1991, the US invited theEthiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front(EPRDF),Eritrean Peoples Liberation Front(EPLF) andOromo Liberation Front(OLF) to talks in London. The ONLF requested to participate, but was turned down by the US.[10]

1992 conference and election victory

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Garigo'an conference

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From 1984 to 1992, the organization lacked effective formal structures of its own, and was instead represented by different Ogaden groups under the ONLF banner that supported the groups ideals.[8]On 17 January 1992, at Garigo'an nearGarbo,a central committee led by Sheikh Ibrahim Abdallah was elected. This would lay the foundation for an organized and cohesive organization.[11]

To take part in the upcoming 1992 regional elections the two existing Somali political entities in the Ogaden, the ONLF andAl-Itihaad Al-Islamiya(AIAI), organized themselves into different constituencies across the Ogaden. Later that year the Ethiopian government forces attacked AIAI's headquarters in the region killing several high ranking figures. Following the attack, Al-Itihaad quickly regrouped and declared ajihadagainst the Ethiopian military presence in the region. As fighting between AIAI and the Ethiopian military raged throughout 1992, a serious internal debate and two factions emerged within the ONLF over whether to join the war. One wing argued that it was clear that the new Ethiopian government was not serious about self-rule and democracy, so the armed struggle should be resumed.[12]The opposing side argued that the government should still be given a chance considering the upcoming regional elections slated for December 1992. It was also noted that the organization only possessed a small military wing. Eventually the argument to refrain from joining the war and struggle through democratic means prevailed, and the government's war against AIAI ended in a ceasefire soon before the elections.[12][13]

December elections and participation in government

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By the time Mengistu regime fell, the ONLF had significantly consolidated its position among ethnic Somalis in Ogaden, and joined theTransitional Government.The ONLF announced elections in December 1992 for District Five (what became theSomali Region) in Ethiopia, and won 80% of the seats of the local parliament. Though the war between Al-Itihaad and the government had ended before the election, AIAI did not participate.[12]ONLF nominated Abdullahi Muhumed Sa'di for the Region's presidency, and other members for the vice-presidency and the Executive body; the regional parliament elected them in a majority vote. ONLF elected officials ruled the territory until the transitional government ended with the adoption ofa new constitution.At that time the rulingEthiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Frontpushed for a new partner in the region, which led to the founding of theEthiopian Somali Democratic League(ESDL) atHursoin 1993.

Rise of ONLF insurgency

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Main article:Insurgency in Ogaden

Tensions and fallout with EPRDF

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Since 1992, theTigray Peoples Liberation Front(TPLF) dominated EPRDF sought to curb Somali demands forself-determinationby influencing politics in the region. To this end the central government portrayed the ESDL as a pan-Somali organization in contrast to theOgadenclan dominated ONLF. While many Somalis saw the ESDL as a merely an extension of the Ethiopian government, the strategy put the ONLF under greater pressure.[14]Despite an agreement between the central government and the ONLF to cooperate on security and administration in the lead up to the 1992 elections, a mutual suspicion existed. Following the 1992 attack onAl-Itihaad,mistrust of the EPRDF within the ONLF greatly deepened.[13]The1995 general electionswere boycotted by the majority of the ONLF,Al-Itihaadand large segments of the Ogaden population due to governments heavy handed interference in the political process. Some ONLF members who opposed the boycott participated in the elections, and performed poorly.[14][15]Major discontent was provoked by the EPRDF led government after it had moved the state capital fromGodetoJigjigain 1994. Following the boycott, the government went so far as to form another organization called 'New ONLF'. The 'New ONLF' and ESDL won the 1995 elections and then merged into theSomali People's Democratic Party(SPDP).[15]

Rebellion

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In 1994, fighting between Ethiopian forces and the ONLF began atWerder,resulting in several days of clashes.[14]Post-1995, armed conflict in theOgadensharply increased. During military confrontations between the ONLF and the military, government forces enacted brutal measures that includedsummary executions,extensive detentions without prosecution, disappearances and torture in a bid to crush the insurgency. In response to heavy handed measures, the ONLF began reaching out to theOromo Liberation Front(OLF) and theAfar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front(ARDUF). Agreements to coordinate activities with both groups were signed. In response to this development, the EPRDF intensified operations and began labelling these groups 'terrorists'.[16]In a bid to gain control of the region, different Somali leaders were imprisoned or assassinated by the central government.[17]

Despite an intensive government military campaign against the ONLF from 1994 to 1996, the organization survived and grew in strength. While the ONLF was effectively composed of numerous differing groups, the governments political interference and brutalcounterinsurgencymeasures led many Somalis in the Ogaden to rally behind it. Previous internal fractures within the organization greatly dissipated in this period, resulting in the ONLF becoming a more cohesive force than it had ever previously been.[18]Until the late 1990s the ONLF was diplomatically isolated, with no ties to outside groups. While the organization had proved to be an effective military force, its armed wing was relatively small for the organizations size and was severely underequipped. In 1998, the organization held its second conference where a new leader, Admiral Mohamed Omar Osman, was elected. His tenure would see the ONLF's military wing greatly expand in strength over the following years. Significantly he also brought the organization out of diplomatic isolation by forging connections regionally and internationally.[19]

2000s insurgency

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Over the early 2000's the ONLF's military capabilities expanded and the organization began stepping up attacks against Ethiopian military positions in the Ogaden, with a significant escalation in armed conflict occurring during 2005.[19]The Ethiopian government accused the ONLF of being linked toAl-Qaeda.[17]On 21 May 2006 the ONLF entered into an alliance with five different Ethiopian opposition groups in an effort to strengthen the resistance to theTPLFdominated central government. Included were theEthiopian People's Patriotic Front,theOromo Liberation Front,and theSidama Liberation Front.[19][20]

Ethiopian invasion of Somalia

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Main article:Invasion of Somalia (2006)
ONLF rebels practictingsalat,Muslim daily prayers

On 23 July 2006, the ONLF announced the downing of an Ethiopian military helicopter heading for Somalia and publicly warned that Ethiopian military movements in the region pointed towards an imminent large scale operation.[21]On 12 August 2006, the Ethiopian government claimed 13 members of the ONLF were killed and several commanders captured as they crossed into Ethiopia from Somalia.[22]In a 26 November 2006 press release, the ONLF categorically rejected government claims of an ONLF military personnel in Somalia, and further warned that it would not allow Ethiopian troops to stage into Somalia from their territories:

...the ONLF categorically denies assertions by theTPLFled regime in Ethiopia and members of the media that ONLF military personnel are in Somalia. As a matter of principle the ONLF has never been and does not intend to be a party to the conflict in Somalia. We wish to affirm that the scope of our military operations is and will continue to be limited toOgadenand Ethiopia. We further wish to make clear that the Ogaden cause in not a territorial dispute between Somalia and Ethiopia but rather a legitimate struggle for the self-determination of the Somali people of Ogaden...the ONLF wishes to affirm that we will not allow our territory to be used as a launching pad for an Ethiopian invasion of Somalia without stiff resistance from our armed forces.[23]

On December 23, the ONLF reported attacking Ethiopian column near Baraajisale that was heading to Somalia, destroying 4 of 20 vehicles, inflicting casualties and driving the convoy back.[24]At the start of 2007, the group publicly condemned theEthiopian invasion of Somalia,stating thatMeles Zenawi's invasion of Somalia demonstrated that his government had been an active participant in theSomali conflictwith a clear agenda aimed at undermining the Somali sovereignty.[25]ONLF forces started escalating their attacks on Ethiopian military forces during early 2007 in reaction to the invasion of Somalia.[26]

2007 Ogaden conflict

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Main article:2007 Ogaden conflict

On January 15, ONLF rebels attacked Ethiopian soldiers inKebri Dahar,Gerbo,andFiq.Five Ethiopian soldiers and one ONLF rebel were reported killed.[27]

Column of ONLF rebels

Raid on Abole oil exploration facility

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Main article:Raid on Abole oil exploration facility

On April 24, 2007, members of the ONLF attacked a camp for employees ofZhongyuan Petroleum Engineering,a Chinese oil exploration company contracted on behalf of theMalaysianoil & gas giantPetronas[28]in Abole (Obale),Somali Region,killing approximately 65 Ethiopians and 9 Chinese nationals.[29]The ONLF claimed it had "completely destroyed" the camp.[25]Most of the Ethiopians killed in the attack were daily laborers, guards and other support staff. Some members of the Ethiopian security officials were also killed during the surprise attack however those killed by the ONLF included 30 civilians, the ONLF attack was perpetuated as the ONLF has a policy of not allowing the Ethiopian government to extract resources as this will not be shared with the impoverished and suppressed population of the Ogaden, the Ogaden is largely a marginalized region as rebels have battled successive governments claiming discrimination and most recently crimes against humanity this was backed by a human rights watch report into alleged abuses.[30]It was the most deadly single attack by the ONLF.[31]

Spring 2007 crackdown and insurgency

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Shortly after the attack, theEthiopian Armylaunched amilitary crackdown in Ogaden.The latest action of this crackdown resulted in the death of foreign relations chief Dr.Mohamed Sirad Dolalat the town ofDananas he met with other ONLF members.[32]Reportedly this has led to the ONLF splitting into two factions, with one group allied to current ONLF chairman Mohammed Omar Osman, and the other led by senior leaderAbdiwali Hussein Gas,who appointedSalahudin Ma'owas the new ONLF chairman and declared that he will "bring Mohammed Omar Osman to court".[33]

In April 2007, theEthiopian governmentimposed a total commercial trade embargo on the war-affected area of theSomali Region(theFiq,Degehabur,Gode,Korahe,andWerder Zones,where the Ogadeni Somali live), prohibiting all commercial truck movement in the region and across the border intoSomalia,as well as the free movement of livestock by foot.[34]A tightly restricted and monitor tour by western journalist in the embattled region on the invitation of the regional administration reported on more alleged crimes by theEthiopian government.A report by aNewsweekreporter detailed howEthiopian military troopsstormed a village southeast of Degahabur, accused the villagers of sympathizing with the ONLF, then razing the village and torturing and murdering many of the inhabitants.[35]In a communique, the ONLF claimed to have captured seven towns in the Somali Region on 10 November 2009 after two days of heavy fighting. The ONLF reported these towns as: Obolka, nearHarar;Hamaro, east of Fiq; Higlaaley and Gunogabo near Degehabur; Yucub, 40 kilometers fromWerder;Galadiid, 35 kilometers from Kebri Dahar; and Boodhaano nearGode.[36]Bereket Simon denied to Reuters that the ONLF had succeeded in capturing any towns, adding, "Their attacks last week were simply the desperate act of a dying force and about 245 of their fighters were killed."[37]

2010s

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The ONLF continues to operate in the Ogaden as of 2011.The Ethiopian military has stepped up its actions against ONLF following the organizations stated that it would attack the Malaysian oil companyPetronas,which plans to extract oil from theOgaden Basin.[38]

War crime allegations

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During fighting between the ENDF and ONLF both sides were accused of war crimes and human rights violations.[1]In their 2008 report 'Collective Punishment'Human Rights Watchmade a catalogue ofwar crimesandcrimes against humanityby theEthiopian governmentin its fight against the ONLF.[1]According to theChicago Tribune,"As of 2007,human rights groupsand media reports accuseEthiopia– a key partner inWashington'sbattle against terrorismin the volatileHorn of Africa– of burning villages, pushing nomads off their lands and choking off food supplies in a harsh new campaign of collective punishment against a restive ethnicSomalipopulation in theOgaden,a vast wilderness of rocks and thorns bordering chaoticSomalia".[39]The Ethiopian governments regional security chief for the Ogaden region,Abdi Mohammed Omar,asserted that over a two month period, some 200 civilians had been killed by the ONLF.[40]In May 2007, a grenade attack by ONLF rebels in the Somali region of Ethiopia claimed the lives of at least 11 Somalis.[41]During a national holiday ceremony held at the Ogaden town ofJijiga,the grenade thrown at the podium of the stadium also wounded Somali regional presidentAbdulahi Hassan Mohammedin the leg.Bereket Simon,an adviser to Prime Minister Meles, blamed the ONLF as well as Eritrea since it arms the ONLF. However, the ONLF denied the accusations.[42]An ONLF grenade attack on a cultural gathering in Jijiga killed four middle school students on May 28, 2007. In a separate attack, fifty civilians were injured, including the regional president Abdullahi Hassan, and three artists were killed on May 28, 2007 by the ONLF.[30]An ONLF attack on the town of theDebeweyinworedain theKorahe Zonealso left ten civilians dead, including two schoolteachers and a pregnant woman. A second attack on the town ofShilavoleft five civilians dead, while an ONLF-planted landmine nearAwarein the Degehabur Zone exploded, killing three civilians traveling by automobile. Another ONLF unit struck in the district of Lahelow near the Ethiopia-Somalia border, reportedly targeting members of the Isma'il Gum'adle sub-clan, twelve of whom were slain.[30]

Ceasefire and peacemaking efforts

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The ONLF declared a unilateral ceasefire on 12 August 2018.[43]

On 4 November 2020, ONLF issued a statement on the current war in Ethiopia, calling on all concerned parties to 'immediately cease the current hostilities', they also called on the international community to 'spare no effort in helping parties find a peace settlement'.[44]

Notes and references

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  1. ^abc"Collective Punishment: War Crimes and crimes against Humanity in the Ogaden area of Ethiopia's Somali Regional State"(pdf),Human Rights WatchReport (2008), p. 27
  2. ^""Ogaden National Anthem"".Archived fromthe originalon 2013-09-28.Retrieved2013-04-18.
  3. ^"Political Programme of the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF)"
  4. ^abBlair, David (2007-10-09)."Ethiopia's 'secret war' forces thousands to flee".Telegraph.co.uk.London: Telegraph Media Group. Archived fromthe originalon October 11, 2007.Retrieved2007-10-30.The rebels recruit most of their fighters from the Ogaden clan, who account for about 2/3 of the region's population. But the authorities are exploiting bitter clan rivalries and arming local militias to fight the ONLF.
  5. ^Tobias Hagman,"The Political Roots of the Current Crisis in Region 5"Archived2010-07-16 at theWayback Machine,published 21 September 2007,Crisis in the Horn of Africawebsite (accessed 17 November 2009)
  6. ^"The Perils of the EPRDF Politics Towards the Somali Region"Archived2011-02-12 at theWayback Machine,an open letter dated 7 May 2005, signed by "Elders and Intellectuals of the Somali Regional State", published on the Wardheer News website (accessed 5 June 2009)
  7. ^Mohamed Mohamud Abdi,A History of the Ogaden Struggle for Self-Determination.(United Kingdom: Lightning Source, 2007).
  8. ^abAbdi 2021,p. 147-148.
  9. ^Abdi 2021,p. 151-152.
  10. ^Abdi 2021,p. 165-166.
  11. ^Abdi 2021,p. 149.
  12. ^abcAbdi 2021,p. 168-169.
  13. ^abAbdi 2021,p. 200-201.
  14. ^abcYlönen 2022,p. 25.
  15. ^abAbdi 2021,p. 173-174.
  16. ^Ylönen 2022,p. 26.
  17. ^abDemoustier, Yannick (2009). "The Next Darfur".The American Interest.4(6): 113–116 – viaProQuest.
  18. ^Abdi 2021,p. 204.
  19. ^abcAbdi 2021,p. 205-206.
  20. ^"Statement announcing the formation of the Alliance for Freedom and Democracy"(Press release).Alliance for Freedom and Democracy.2006-05-22. Archived fromthe originalon 2008-07-03.Retrieved2007-04-26.
  21. ^SudanTribune (2006-07-24)."ONLF shoots down Ethiopian military helicopter".Sudan Tribune.Retrieved2023-12-15.
  22. ^[1]Archived for subscribers only
  23. ^"Ogaden rebels to resist Ethiopian army if it attacks Somali-statement".Sudan Tribune.Ogaden National Liberation Front.2006-11-28.Retrieved2023-12-15.
  24. ^"Ogaden rebels destroy Ethiopian military convoy en route to Somalia".Sudan Tribune.2006-12-24.Retrieved2007-04-26.
  25. ^ab"ONLF Statement On Military Operation Against Illegal Oil Facility In Ogaden"(Press release). Ogaden National Liberation Front. 2007-04-24.Retrieved2007-04-26.
  26. ^McGregor, Andrew (5 June 2007)."Ethiopia Faces Ethnic Fallout from Somalia Intervention".Terrorism Focus.4(17).Jamestown Foundation.
  27. ^"ONLF rebels attack Ethiopian soldiers in 3 towns".Garowe Online.2007-01-15. Archived fromthe originalon 2007-01-28.Retrieved2007-04-26.
  28. ^"ONLF threatens to thwart Ethiopia's oil deal with Petronas".2007-10-08. Archived fromthe originalon 2007-10-08.Retrieved2024-02-14.
  29. ^Gettleman, Jeffrey (2007-04-24)."Ethiopian Rebels Kill 70 at Chinese-Run Oil Field".The New York Times.Retrieved2007-04-24.
  30. ^abcDr. J. Peter Pham,"Regional dimensions of the human rights and Humanitarian situation in the 'Ogaden', Somalia, and beyond"Archived2012-11-27 at theWayback Machine:Testimony before the United States House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health, October 2, 2007 (accessed 5 June 2009)
  31. ^ONLF massacre detailedArchived2007-09-29 at theWayback Machine
  32. ^"Senior ONLF leader Killed"Archived2009-02-10 at theWayback Machine(accessed 27 January 2009)
  33. ^"Ethiopia: Ogaden's ONLF breaks into two factions"Archived2011-07-13 at theWayback Machine,Jimma Times,3 March 2009 (accessed 9 March 2009)
  34. ^"Collective Punishment: 'Economic war': Confiscation of Livestock, the Trade Embargo, and Other Restrictions",Human Rights Watch report, 11 June 2008 (accessed 17 November 2009)
  35. ^Newsweek,January 22, 2008
  36. ^"Ogaden rebels claim capture of seven towns"Archived2010-02-11 at theWayback MachineSudan Times15 November 2009 (accessed 16 November 2009)
  37. ^"Ethiopia denies rebels have captured seven towns",Reuters website, published 16 November 2009 (accessed 17 November 2009)
  38. ^"ONLF and development issues".Archived fromthe originalon 2020-01-26.Retrieved2009-11-17.
  39. ^"Fallout from war on terror hits Ethiopia; U.S. ally battles its own insurgents"Chicago Tribune,published 9 July 2007 (accessed 17 November 2009)
  40. ^"Silence essential in Ogaden"Archived2008-01-31 at theWayback Machine,News 24 website, 29 January 2008 (accessed 5 June 2009)
  41. ^United States House of Representatives Detail report on some of the killings of civilians by ONLFArchived2012-11-27 at theWayback Machine
  42. ^"Rebel throws grenade during ceremony, injuring Ethiopian regional leader"Archived2007-10-10 at theWayback Machine,AP wirestory 28 May 2007
  43. ^"Declaration of Unilateral Ceasefire".ONLF. 12 August 2018.
  44. ^"The current war in Ethiopia".ONLF. 4 November 2020.
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Bibliography

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