BBC World Service Inerviews Abdirahman Sh. Mahdi

[hanqadh]

Good Interview.



In an interview with BBC World Service, the ONLF Foriegn Secretary,
Mr. Abdirahman Sh Mahdi outlines the ONLF's position towards
any peace with the Ethiopian Government; Listen

[hanqadh]

O.N.L.F Position Statement On So-Called "Peace Deal" With UWSLF


30 July 2010

The Ethiopian regimes so-called "peace deal" with the Ogaden branch of the now defunct Al-Itihaad Al-Islaami (AIAI) organization known as the United Western Somali Liberation Front (UWSLF) has no impact on facts on the ground in Ogaden and represents an attempt by the regime to promote the idea that a non-existent peace process is underway in Ogaden.

The so-called UWSLF was created to act as the Ogaden chapter of the AIAI organization. Its ideology and methods were counter to the interests of the people of Ogaden and were therefore rejected by the people. USWLF assisted by external elements sought to establish a functioning presence in Ogaden during the last few years but failed to do so. When UWSLF sponsors ceased to provide financial and material support for the AIAI affiliate, the leadership of the UWSLF was left with no option but to surrender to the Ethiopian regime. The regime saw this as an opportunity to forward the impression that it was pursuing a legitimate peace process and making significant security gains in Ogaden in order to alleviate the fears of potential investors in the oil sector and also out of increasing concern over persistent accusations that the regime is engaged in collective punishment, war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ogaden.

Promoting a fictitious peace process with actors having no impact on facts of the ground in Ogaden, and potentially other conflict areas in the future, is also part of the regimes strategy to deviate attention from the most recent stolen election in Ethiopia in which the regimes ruling party and its allies illegitimately secured 545 out of 547 seats in the national assembly.

The Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) wishes to make clear to all interested parties that the UWSLF has no constituency in Ogaden nor does this so-called "peace agreement" with the Ethiopian regime impact in any way facts on the ground in Ogaden. The ONLF wishes to further affirm that any legitimate peace process aimed at reaching a just, comprehensive and lasting political settlement to the conflict between the people of Ogaden and successive Ethiopian regimes can only be achieved through an internationally mediated process, taking place in a neutral venue.

The Ethiopian regime continues to refuse international mediation of the conflict and has therefore pursued bogus so called "peace agreements" with entities that are either non-existent or have no constituency in order to create the impression that there is a peace process underway in Ogaden.

The ONLF wishes to affirm once again that there is no peace process underway in Ogaden and that
statements to the contrary by the Ethiopian regime are a diversionary tactic by the ruling Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) party.

Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF)

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