Jigjiga, Ethiopia – The Somali Regional State (SRS) has officially denied allegations made by the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) against the Ethiopian government, stating that these accusations do not reflect the official stance of the organization.
In a statement published on its official media platforms, SRS emphasized that ONLF had previously committed to transforming its struggle into a peaceful political movement under the 2018 Asmara peace agreement, which allowed it to pursue its political aspirations through electoral competition.
The statement highlighted that ONLF had registered with Ethiopia’s National Electoral Board (NEBE) and had been monitoring the progress, peace, and political stability in the Somali region over the past six years.
However, SRS dismissed ONLF’s latest accusations, in which the group claimed that the Ethiopian government had violated the 2018 peace agreement and systematically suppressed Somali voices through the current administration of the Somali Regional State.
SRS described ONLF’s press release as unauthorized and not representative of the organization’s leadership, stating that the document was not endorsed by the Central Committee or the Deputy Chairman of ONLF, thus rendering it legally invalid according to the party’s internal regulations.
The Somali Regional State reaffirmed ONLF’s continued support for the Asmara Agreement, noting that the party’s Central Committee would soon convene a General Assembly in accordance with its internal rules and the directives of the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia.
ONLF had previously accused the Ethiopian government of implementing unconstitutional measures within the Somali region and violating the terms of the 2018 peace accord. In October of last year, the group announced that it had postponed its scheduled Central Committee Assembly, where it had planned to review the progress of the peace agreement.
