Ethiopia: ONLF and Ethiopian Government Negotiation collapsed.

Comments (53)

Thursday 18 October 2012.

Kenya – The second round of peace talks between the government of Ethiopian and ONLF, Ogaden National Liberation Front collapsed, according to a statement from, Ogaden National Liberation Front committee.
The statements issued by the ONLF said, “In the first formal talks, the process went smoothly and the parties reached an agreement on the modalities, general principles and an agenda for the talks.
In the second round of the talks, the Ethiopian government delegation did not respect the principles agreed upon. These stated that “the holding of negotiations must be in accordance with mutually acceptable principles and no preconditions shall be made to negate the inherent character and purpose of the peace negotiations.” Instead the Ethiopian delegation tabled a contentious issue that was a key element of the conflict, by insisting that the continuation of the talks depends on the ONLF accepting the Ethiopian constitution, Unfortunately, the Ethiopian delegation blocked any attempts for the talks to move forward by imposing this precondition”
There are ongoing efforts to continue the dialogue, a source close to mediators told Ogadentoday Press.
Speaking of the constitution the group said that their position on the constitution is that it must reflect the will of the people and that the Somali people never exercised a referendum on the constitution”
The Ethiopian government requested the Kenyan government to facilitate talks with the ONLF. Then the Kenyan government approached ONLF, who accepted the invitation to engage in the process in a genuine and principled way.
ONLF is the most affective nationalist rebel group in Ethiopia, and seeking the self-determination of Ogaden Region in eastern Ethiopia. They have waged a war against Ethiopian troops in Ogaden since 1994.
Right groups accused the government of Ethiopia committing genocide in Ogaden region; same experts label the region, as Darfur of Ogaden.
According to the historians and the colonial agreements records Ogaden was handed over to Ethiopia by the British kingdom in the late of 19Th century. Britain ruled the Ogaden after when the Italian was ousted from the Horn of Africa.
Britain administration in Ogaden was formally known as, British Military Administration of Ogaden(BMAO).
The region is populated by Somali ethnic group, and estimated 4.5 but Ogaden people believe in that they are 7 million.

The natural resources mainly Gas and Oil is believed in reserved in Ogaden Region.