Ogaden rebels to resist Ethiopian army if it attacks Somali-statement

Nov 28, 2006 — There has been much written about the events unfolding
in Somalia with frequent mention of
the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) and
speculations on our position with regards to the
events unfolding in Somalia. Hence, we would like to
take this opportunity to clarify to the international
community and members of the media our principled
position on the Somali civil war and Ethiopia’s
involvement in that country’s internal affairs.

First, the ONLF categorically denies assertions by the
TPLF led 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 to
Ogaden and 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

Secondly, the ONLF strongly cautions the international
community against permitting an Ethiopian invasion of
Somalia as that would have dire consequences for the
entire region. An Ethiopian invasion of Somalia will
trigger a catastrophic regional war with massive loss
of life and continued instability in the Horn of
Africa for years to come.

Thirdly, 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.

Fourthly, the ONLF bears witness to the fact that the
TPLF led regime is in continuous breach of the arms
embargo placed on Somalia and has been since the
inception of the embargo. The current Ethiopian regime
has clearly been the primary obstacle to the peaceful
settlement of the Somali conflict for over a decade by
actively interfering in the internal affairs of
Somalia by arming various factions, training their
militias and undermining through diplomatic maneuvers
nearly all attempts at a peaceful settlement between
conflicting parties.

In This time of increasing tensions in the Horn of
Africa, the ONLF wishes to confirm that the people of
Ogaden stand in strong solidarity with the people of
Somalia to reclaim their sovereignty and achieve a
lasting peace free of foreign influence and
manipulation.

Despite the Ethiopian regimes policy of deliberately
undermining peace in Somalia, the ONLF urges all
parties in Somalia to solve their differences through
dialogue and recognize that they are at the threshold
of a crucial decision that will usher in a period of
sovereignty or foreign domination for Somalia
depending on the choices they make.

The ONLF will continue to support and encourage every
legitimate effort to provide all necessary assistance
to the Somali people so that they can fully grasp
their political future into their own hands and move
toward a peaceful, prosperous and democratic future
built by Somalis and for Somalis.

Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF)