OLF says concerned by Somali-Ethiopian border skirmishes

November 29, 2006 — The Oromo Liberation Front views the current skirmish between the
armed forces of the Somalia’s Union of Islamic Courts and the Ethiopian
regime with a grave concern. The skirmish unless contained as a matter
of urgency could engulf the Horn of Africa region with devastating
consequences. The Horn of Africa is one of the poorest regions of the
world and a senseless war, without any doubt, will only exacerbate the
disastrous economic, social and political situations created by decades
of ethnic oppression, armed conflicts, and drought.

The Oromo people share long historical ties with the people of
Somalia. We are mindful that the people of Somalia have lived without a
central government for the past 16 years and we value their efforts to
rebuild their country. We believe that the people of Somalia must be
supported in a positive manner acceptable to them to rebuild their
country and shape their future. On the other hand, we consider the
interference in the internal affairs of Somalia by the regime of
Ethiopia and others to be totally irresponsible. Meles Zenawi’s
interference in the volatile situation in Somalia is not only a futile
attempt to divert attention from his regime’s abhorrent dictatorship and
human rights abuses it is inflicting on Oromos and other people in
Ethiopia, but also a dangerous manoeuvre that will have longstanding
negative consequences for peace in Northeast Africa as a whole.

Oromia shares a considerable length of border with Somalia. We are
seriously concerned that the war between Ethiopia and Somalia would
cause further suffering of the Oromo and other peoples, and instability
in the region. The Ethiopian regime will yet again squander the resource
of Oromia that it controls illegally on its war effort and will send
young Oromo conscripts as cannon fodders just as it did in its war
against Eritrea in 2000.

The Oromo people will gain nothing from the war between Ethiopia and
Somalia and therefore must refrain from collaborating with the Ethiopian
regime in the war effort. On the contrary, we call up on the Oromo
people to remain focussed on the national liberation struggle to
liberate Oromia from Ethiopian colonization.

We would like to remind all involved in the ongoing conflict in
Somalia to show restraint and give diplomacy a chance to resolve
differences. We would also like to express our concerns to the
international community about the looming disaster and urge them to stop
the harmful involvement of the Ethiopian regime in Somalia’s internal
political affairs.

Oromia shall be free!

Oromo Liberation Front