ADDIS-ABABA (Halbeeg News) – Delegates from Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) have arrived in the Ethiopian capital, `Addis-Ababa for the first time since the group was dropped from the terror-list in Ethiopia.
ONLF launched its bid for the secession of the Somali Region in eastern Ethiopia in 1984.
According to the reliable sources, the group’s spokesperson, AbdiKadir Hassan Hirmoge and other officials who reached Addis-Ababa are expected to hold talks with the Ethiopian government.
The move comes hours after the group announced a unilateral suspension of all its operations using firearms to show its support for the ongoing political changes undertaken by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
“The Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) declares a unilateral ceasefire from today 12:00 pm August 12, 2018,” the statement reads, And will cease all military and security operations directed against the Ethiopian security apparatus in the Somali territory.”
The group based itself in Ethiopia’s neighbouring Eritrea for decades and insisted its armed operations were to defend Somalis in Ethio-Somali region.
In 2007, Ethiopian forces waged a large-scale offensive against them after the group attacked a Chinese-run oil facility, killing 74 people.
China’s GCL-Poly Petroleum Investments has been developing two gas fields since 2013.
But the ONLF was among two other groups that were removed by parliament from a list of banned movements – part of a reform drive being led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who has extended an olive branch to dissidents,
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