Continued armed activities of Oromo liberation groups

Please also see section 3.1 for further information regarding the OLF and further armed groups.

In September 2018 more than 60 people were killed within five days in Benishangul region, after “‘unidentified’ gunmen allegedly hoisting Oromo National Liberation Front (OLF)” killed four security authorities from Kamashi zone on their return from a meeting in Wollega in Oromo region (Borkena, 1 October 2018). Ethiopia Insight provides the following view on the September 2018 violence:

“Tens of thousands of people have fled Kamashi Zone in Benishangul-Gumuz state after deadly instability following the killing of four zonal officials in Oromia last week. The unrest is another example of renewed instability around disputed inter-regional border areas that has plagued Ethiopia this year. […] The Sep. 26 ambush is being pinned on the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) by locals who are demanding justice and for the federal government to restore order, according to Matiyos. Negeri said an armed group acting in the name of OLF was responsible, which is what the federal Attorney General’s Office alleges about a grenade attack at a June 23 rally in Addis Ababa attended by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

[..] OLF is not involved in the conflict and believes it is caused by mercenaries hired by a group trying to weaken the government, according to an Oct. 2 BBC interview with

spokesman Tolera Adeba. [...] The Benishangul People’s Liberation Movement alleges that the OLF committed multiple attacks in recent months and says indigenous people in the region are oppressed by Amhara, Oromo and Tigrayans. The Gumuz historically faced oppression and subjugation in Wellega by Oromo and by Amharic-speakers from the east, according to Asnake.” (Ethiopia Insight, 4 October 2018)

In Wollega, West Oromo region 17 banks were robbed within two days, allegedly “by groups with political affiliation to the militant OLF faction” (Borkena, 14 January 2019). According to FBC, 18 banks had been robbed in three zones in the western part of Oromia (Africanews, 16 January 2019, Nazret, 15 January 2019). Following the incidents, 835 members of the Oromo Liberation Front, “who are believed to be behind a spike in crime incidents in western Oromia” were arrested. Africanews further notes:

“The recent looting particularly of banks in western Oromia by armed men believed to be from the OLF led to reports last weekend that the army was carrying out airstrikes in the area. The Oromia state government flatly denied the reports widely carried by local media describing them as misleading.” (Africanews, 17 January 2019)

A January 2019 article by Associated Press cites the office of the Prime Minister:

“Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's office denied it but said rebel groups were ‘not heeding the call for peace.’ It accused the OLF of ‘egregious violence against community members.’ The office said Ethiopian forces have been ‘undertaking a stabilising operation over the past two weeks, and the area is now being secured’.” (AP, 19 January 2019)

A February 2019 article by Ethiopia Insight cites a farmer from Amaro woreda in Southern Nations region, who alleges that the Oromo Liberation Front is responsible for attacks in the area. According to him “the Guji-based OLF kills and loots us as it wishes.” The article further notes:

“The border between West Guji Zone of Oromia and Southern Nations has experienced occasional conflict for decades. Competition for land and water between Guji Oromo and Gedeo, Burji and Amaro communities, who all use the Gelan River, has been at the heart of disputes.” (Ethiopia Insight, 28 February 2019)

In August 2019 the UK Home Office cites Jane's Sentinel Security Assessment on North Africa, dated 19 April 2019:

“Several anti-government militant groups pose sporadic, low-capacity small-arms attack risks, particularly armed Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) elements (despite formal reconciliation with the government) in Oromia's Welega, Illubabor, Guji, and Borena zones, and Benishangul-Gumuz militants in areas bordering western Oromia. Their most likely targets are security forces, state-owned assets, local civilians, and (infrequently) road travellers (including vehicles carrying expatriate staff in remote areas). Armed robberies targeting cash-intensive operations (e.g. banks) and road travellers and cargo are also likely. Full integration of the armed OLF wing into the security forces would decrease this risk, and attempts to disarm un-integrated OLF elements would increase it.’” (UK Home Office, August 2019, pp. 29-30)

107 In March 2019 at least five people were killed by shootings of unidentified gunmen in in the Nejo district, Western Wollega zone, in the southwest of Oromia. The region “has been the center of armed movement until recently when the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), a popular party across Oromia, made a deal with the Federal and regional governments to disarm” (AA, 19 March 2019). According to Oromo regional state deputy police commissioner, Retta Belachew, “the gunmen were armed Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) Shane group who refused to disarm”. A militant OLF wing “has been operating in the region for many months now”

(Borkena, 19 March 2019). According to a May 2019 article by Addis Standard “several reports indicate that armed groups who are often accused of being members of Oromo Liberation Army, the armed wing of OLF-SG, are still active in parts of Western Oromia and Guji areas in southern Ethiopia” (Addis Standard, 29 May 2019).

Ethiopia Insight provides an overview on incidents involving OLF in May 2019:

“Dambi Dollo Town Communication Office said a grenade killed one and injured four civilians on May 9. ODP and OLA blamed each other for the attack in the western Oromia town. Residents say after the grenade detonated, soldiers killed a civilian and injured two others. A health worker and nurse in Dambi Dollo Hospital said two injured people and a body with bullet wounds arrived on May 9. Thirteen people were killed on May 4 by security forces in Lalo Assabi Woreda of West Wollega Zone after a firefight between soldiers and OLA, an official told Voice of America. Lalo Assabi residents said 10 were killed while loading sand on a truck, and three in a Bajaj taxi in Inango town. On the day of the funeral, a pharmacy owner returning from purchasing supplies was shot dead by soldiers in Kellem Wollega Zone’s Gaawoo Qeebbee Woreda, possibly as he was suspected of supplying medicines to OLA. […] ‘The security situation throughout Wollega was very tense in April. I heard the Abbaa Torbbee wing of OLF claiming that they had killed a security chief of the Western regiment,’ said Mebratu Kelecha from the University of Westminster in the UK. […] ‘In Nekemte town, where most partners operating in the region are based, there has been a range of attacks with hand grenade by UAGs (unidentified armed groups) in the last two months. These attacks have created a number of casualties, none among humanitarian personnel. Aid operations in West Wollega are intermittently restricted by ongoing hostilities between the EDF (Ethiopian Defense Forces) and UAG, with clashes taking place in a number of woredas, i.e. Begi, Bogi Dirmegi, Nejo, Leta Sibu, Kiltu Kara, Mana Sibu and Lalo Asabi.’” (Ethiopia Insight, 7 June 2019)

In September 2019 nine people were injured in a grenade attack on a police garrison in Burayu town on the outskirts of Addis Ababa. 22 suspects were arrested and are accused of having connections to OLF. (Borkena, 13 September 2019; Xinhua, 13 September 2019)

As reported by Borkena, at least three people were killed and five others wounded in the town of Ataye in North Shewa zone of Amhara regional state. According to residents and government the armed wing of Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) is responsible for the attack (Borkena, 7 October 2019). Ezega also mentions the attacks in Ataye and reports that “at least five people were killed, and four others wounded in the ongoing attacks by undisclosed armed groups”.

According to witnesses gunshots are also being heard in Minjar and Shenkora as well as Efrata and Gidim districts. Official of Amhara state “reportedly blamed members of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) for the unfolding attacks in Ataye and surrounding towns”. OLF denies

the accusations and claims “it does not even have armed forces in the area”. Already in April 2019 Amhara regional government blamed OLF for attacks in Ataye and surrounding towns (Ezega, 8 October 2019). Ethiopia Observer cites General Berhanu Jula of the Ethiopian Armed Forces in October 2019 as noting that “armed groups in the two areas have been defeated and only their remnants are attacking villages and public transports to show that they are still around”. The article further quotes:

“Today, there is not active insurgency to speak of either in Wollega or Guji’, General Berhanu claimed. ‘Normalisation has returned to those areas. Some of the fighters have surrendered. Some of them have handed themselves in. Some died,’ he added. Berhanu reached out to armed units that are still in the bush and continue to resist, saying the government is willing to go extra lengths to meet their demands.” (Ethiopia Observer, 11 October 2019)

At the end of October 2019 the President of Oromia regional state said that “parts of Oromia have in recent days been facing insecurity by the actions of armed militias claiming allegiance to ex-rebel group Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and that the government would be forced to act to protect the lives and security of its citizens if militias don't cease all armed activities.”

(Xinhua, 30 October 2019)

As noted by Borkena in November 2019 “a battle between Ethiopian troops and the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) fighters is reportedly going on in Wollega, Western Ethiopia” (Borkena, 4 November 2019).

An November article by Africa Confidential mentions that “the Oromo Liberation Army's Central Command, which has split from OLF leaders in Addis, reported over 10 clashes in western Oromia between 1 and 2 November, claiming to have repulsed ‘several advances’ by the military in Najo and Dembi Dollo, which signalled a ‘new chapter’ in ‘the armed struggle’.”

(Africa Confidential, 7 November 2019)

The following paragraphs provide information on attacks involving unidentified armed groups (UAGs).

As reported by UNOCHA, in May 2019 “clashes between the EDF and an UAG continued unabated” in West Guji and in “Guji zone, clashes between EDF and an UAG intensified” after EDF soldiers were killed in Wadera woreda (UNOCHA, 31 May 2019, p. 3). Between June and July 2019 hostilities between EDF and UAG in West Guji restricted humanitarian operations.

UNOCHA also notes a “spike of violence in southern Oromia, mirroring the conflict dynamics of West Guji, with an increase number of UAGs attacks, road blockages, and large scale EDF presence” (UNOCHA, 11 September 2019, p. 3). UNOCHA further reports on the situation in Oromia (East Wellega, West Wellega, Kelem Wellega) and Kamashi (Benishangul-Gumuz) between June and July 2019:

“Partners’ operations in West Wellega and Kamashi [Benishangul-Gumuz] were affected by the conflict between EDF and UAGs. In June, a number of deadly attacks were reported in Gimbi, Leta Sibu, and Kilta Kara woredas, including the use of hand grenades, prompting partners to cancel operations and relocate staff. In Nekemte town (East Wellega), between

109 March and June, there were a number of explosive attacks, including the 5 June bomb in a

hotel that injured some civilians and caused pandemonium in the area. By mid-July, increased Government security presence and the subsequent reduction of security incidents, allowed for the resumption of UN road movements between Nekemte – Assossa.

However, in some instances, aid workers were intimidated by military elements while conducting security patrolling, road check-points, and staff searches in their accommodation. Elsewhere, an increment of UAG attacks was reported in Kelem Wellega, while in East Wellega, the security situation remained calm and conducive to aid operations.” (UNOCHA, 11 September 2019, p. 2)

In Guji zone “UAGs have conducted attacks impacting the civilian population, targeting public transport vehicles, government infrastructure, and kidnapping local officials” (UNOCHA, 11 September 2019, pp. 3-4). UNOCHA further mentions clashes with unidentified armed groups (UAGs) in August 2019 hampering humanitarian operations in West Guji (UNOCHA, 6 November 2019, p. 3).