Serious confrontation near Harar
Wednesday, 25 November 2009 13:45
ONLF fighters
According to information received by The Indian Ocean Newsletter, a deadly skirmish occurred on 16 November in a place known as Jaketa, situated between Harar and Babile in the east of Ethiopia. It pitted government soldiers of the South Eastern Command against unidentified rebel forces and is believed to have made several tens of victims among the government troops. Many of the wounded soldiers were treated at the Hiwot Fana Hospital and other hospitals in Harar.
Although no organisation has yet officially claimed responsibility for this action, it is highly likely that those involved were Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) rebels, the most active group in this region. However, according to some witnesses, several of these attackers spoke to each other in the Amhara language, which is not so common in the ranks of the ONLF. They may have been instructors from outside this region of Ethiopia. This military confrontation occurred after arms were stolen in Harar at the beginning of the month, a theft attributed to ONLF rebels (ION 1273).
Source: African Intelligence
ONLF at the gates of Harar.
