Ethiopia’s Ogaden rebels dismiss cooperation with Somali insurgents

September 22, 2009 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopian Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) dismissed statement by regional authorities accusing the rebel group of supporting Islamist insurgents in Somalia who want to topple down the UN backed government in Mogadishu.

The governor of Somali Bakool region, Abdi Mohamed, said last the ONLF helped Al-Shebab attacks on government troops from Yeed town in his region saying “Al Shebab and OLF militias took Yeed town from us.”

The ONLF “has no relationship whatsoever with Al-shabab, which, on several occasions has assassinated ONLF members, including the former ONLF defence Secretary Mr Elias Sh. Ali Siyad,” said a statement released by the Ethiopian rebels.

The rebels said not surprised by such accusations from Somali officials who are “sponsored by Ethiopia,” reaffirming that there group does not interfere in the internal affairs of the Somali republic and in fact has so far supported the new transitional government” despite the close relations between some Somali officials and Addis Ababa.

The Somali ethnic rebels of Ogaden marked their distance with Islamist groups and say in their political program they “categorically rejects the manipulation of religious teachings to justify violent and criminal acts targeted at civilians.”

The ONLF further said it would seek clarifications from the Somali government “about this statement by this man who claims to be one of its governors, as it considers this as an act of belligerency.”

(ST)