The Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) has accused Ethiopian security forces of violently breaking up a peaceful women’s meeting in Jigjiga on April 24. The event was held at the ONLF’s regional office by the Ogaden Women’s Association. The group claims that several members were hurt, and others were arrested. The ONLF says this is part of a larger pattern of repression in Ethiopia’s Somali Region.
Violence at the ONLF Office
The ONLF says armed officers stormed the event without warning. The gathering, which aimed to empower women and discuss local issues, turned into chaos as security forces broke in.
“Today, a peaceful meeting of the Ogaden Women’s Association—held at ONLF’s regional office in Jigjiga—was violently disrupted by armed security forces,” the ONLF said in a statement.
A well-known cultural figure was sent to the hospital, and several ONLF officials were taken into custody. The group says these arrests were unjust and politically motivated.
Claims of Wider Crackdown
The ONLF believes this is not an isolated incident. They claim it is part of a larger effort by the Ethiopian government to shut down political space in the Somali Region.
“This attack is part of a widening crackdown that has become increasingly frequent and brazen,” the group said. They argue that many parts of the 2018 Peace Agreement remain unfulfilled.
ONLF leaders say only about 20% of the promises made by the federal government have been kept. These include allowing legal registration, integrating ex-fighters into society, and giving Somali leaders more control over oil and gas resources.
Arrests Beyond the Meeting
The group also pointed to earlier arrests in Garbo district. There, the head of the local ONLF branch was reportedly told to denounce the party or face jail time. He chose jail.
ONLF also claimed that Ethiopian officials are trying to break the group from within. They said a rival faction tried to install a new leader with state backing. ONLF leaders called this attempt “fraudulent” and “state-orchestrated.”
ONLF Leadership Dispute
Earlier this year, a Nairobi-based group within ONLF said the peace deal was over. They announced plans to stop working with the federal government.
Just hours later, the ONLF’s Central Committee in Jigjiga rejected that statement. They said the Nairobi faction had no right to speak for the group and that the party still supported peace.
Analysts believe the Ethiopian government may be using this split to weaken the ONLF.
Mounting Tensions Over Oil
Oil and gas rights remain a major issue. The ONLF warned the Chinese firm Poly-GCL not to drill in the Ogaden Basin without Somali approval. The group said any such move would be viewed as “resource plunder by proxy.”
However, government officials say the talks with Poly-GCL were routine and necessary for economic growth.
Still, the ONLF argues that promised rights over natural resources have not been honored. Many locals fear that the region’s wealth will benefit others, not the people living there.
Impact on Women and Youth
While political leaders argue, everyday people are suffering. Hundreds of ex-fighters, many of them women, still struggle with trauma and poverty. A local group called Hormud says the lack of support programs is putting these people at risk of falling into deeper hardship.
The ONLF also pointed to a recent case where a 16-year-old student died in custody after a minor school dispute. A journalist who tried to speak with the boy’s family was allegedly harassed.
“Surveillance, arbitrary arrests, and harassment have become common in the Somali Region,” the group said.
Echoes Across Ethiopia
The ONLF says the repression is not limited to Somali areas. They named other regions like Oromia, Amhara, Tigray, Sidama, and Benishangul as also facing similar issues.
They say these actions show a pattern of state violence that goes against the spirit of Ethiopia’s peace efforts.
Government Response
The federal government says the peace deal is still active. Somali Region President Mustafa Muhumed Omar pointed to new schools, clinics, and roads as proof of progress.
He said change should be measured by what has been built, not by what is still missing.
But tensions continue to rise. In a 2024 video, Ethiopian Defense Chief Gen. Berhanu Jula reportedly called ONLF “an enemy created by Egypt.” The group says this remark shows deep hostility from top leaders.
ONLF May Reconsider Armed Struggle
ONLF Chairman Abdikarim Sheikh Mohamed Mahdi recently told BBC Somali that the group may look at “other options,” including picking up arms again. He said this depends on whether the government continues to block peaceful efforts.
Despite these threats, the group still says it wants to work through peaceful political means.
The Ogaden National Liberation Front is calling on the Ethiopian government to respect the 2018 Peace Agreement. It asks the state to stop using violence against peaceful groups and to allow open political space. As the situation grows more tense, eyes are now on Addis Ababa to see whether it will respond with reform—or more force.
