Why is the ONLF such a massive failure?

[Monk-of-Mogadishu]

The ONLF is among the most hyped yet least effective guerrilla armies & separatist movements in the world. They've been active since 1984 yet have never held any territory nor could they create a viable social/political platform in all that time. Compare this to the Taliban, founded 10 years later, and controlled 80-90% of Afghanistan in less than 2 years of their founding, and today amidst an intense NATO-Pakistani-Iranian-Indian-Chinese-Tajik-Uzbek crackdown they are gaining even more territory across several countries. Even in the Horn, Al-Shabaab formed in 2006 and has fought off multiple invasions & troop surges and now controls half of Somalia with a tight grip. Or look at the SPLM in Sudan, formed just a year before the ONLF and by 2005 they received autonomy & independence timetable.

What is the cause for the ONLF's incompetence? They've been around for a long time, they have a common/popular cause, they have close kin (possible supporters) across multiple borders, and are fighting a weak state - yet none of this has gotten them any closer to any sort of victory goals.

That is all.

[Somaliman50]

couldnt the same be said for the other movements in ethiopia? how far did the oromo liberation front get?

[grandpakhalif]

Because they distance themselves from Somalis and Islam in general. They claim to be a 'secular' movement, which will never succeed.

[The_Patriot]

Because they distance themselves from Somalis and Islam in general. They claim to be a 'secular' movement, which will never succeed.

says an ilkoyar mini warlord that hops from one extreme end to another.

[grandpakhalif]

Emotions aside, why aren't they successful like ICU? They don't control one major city, they are a failure because they have a corrupted belief. Of this makes you angry then so be it. Rifle 'ilkoyar' all day.

[Monk-of-Mogadishu]

couldnt the same be said for the other movements in ethiopia? how far did the oromo liberation front get?

I didn't ask about those movements, I asked about ONLF. Also, ONLF is far more active and has far greater membership than any other Ethiopian opposition group or militia, by a huge margin.


Adding: People should not catch emotions, I asked a very straight-forward question.

[The_Patriot]

Emotions aside, why aren't they successful like ICU? They don't control one major city, they are a failure because they have a corrupted belief. Of this makes you angry then so be it. Rifle 'ilkoyar' all day.

was the icu successful if so where are they know?

nigga you forgot that the same secularism you abhor is the one that fed your family when your dad migrated from the bush to the promises of xamar.

go preach your ideology to your closest family, we all know your family one way or another benefited from the thug called Huraale, just tell them to fear Allah and return the properties they stole as well as refunding those they stole from their illegal isbaaro, could you also inform them to stop sending money to Dollow crew and the sufis.

[The_Patriot]

couldnt the same be said for the other movements in ethiopia? how far did the oromo liberation front get?

I didn't ask about those movements, I asked about ONLF. Also, ONLF is far more active and has far greater membership than any other Ethiopian opposition group or militia, by a huge margin.


Adding: People should not catch emotions, I asked a very straight-forward question.

monk the thing is you are arguing from a pirate view point.

You think Ethiopia is like PL or SL.

Why not rephrase it this way how come PL has not secured all its borders?

[Monk-of-Mogadishu]

monk the thing is you are arguing from a pirate view point.

You think Ethiopia is like PL or SL.

Why not rephrase it this way how come PL has not secured all its borders?

PL has not "secured" its borders (just parts of Sool & Cayn to be precise) because there is political upheaval among the Dhulbahante (which I cannot elaborate on since I am not Dhulbahante), and as a result there has been confusion in the region as well as mixed loyalties due to neighboring Somaliland buying out Dhulbahante figures to switch loyalties.

I answered your question, now stop being emotional and answer the topic.

[quark]

Because they are fighting a formidable well equipped army not a ragtag millitia equiped with tecknikos. Guul ONLF

[The_Patriot]

PL has not "secured" its borders (just parts of Sool & Cayn to be precise) because there is political upheaval among the Dhulbahante (which I cannot elaborate on since I am not Dhulbahante), and as a result there has been confusion in the region as well as mixed loyalties due to neighboring Somaliland buying out Dhulbahante figures to switch loyalties.

I answered your question, now stop being emotional and answer the topic.

There again a weak answer SL brought its army and took the region by force when PL forces were chased out it has nothing to do with Dhulbahante etc.
So if you guys cannot retake SSC from an unrecognised entity how do you expect ONLF which became an effective Guarille force (in 2000-2005) to up root an army that gets close to a billion dollars a year and has a millitary force of 200k + which is dispensible? further more you have to understand facts that in the Ogaden folks had been resettling after migrating from refugee camps in the 90's and thanks to the cooperation of your likes you have been more of a setback than a blessing.

[udun]

Here is the reason: Taliban has a terrain that no powerful country could win as long as the locals are resisting. It also has a neighbouring that backs and supports the very cause of the Afghan Taliban. That neighboring country (Pakistan) is also backed by an emerging superpower--China.

Al-Shabaab (ICU) started within a Somali territory that no foreign power was controlling. They had an access to the sea and controlled a huge territory where they could tax the population and earn hundreds of millions of dollars.

The SPLA wa created and backed by the west. The salary of its 140,000 are all paid for by the US State Department.

Remember, Somalia is regarded as a soveriegn country where Ogaden is regarded within Ethiopia in the unjust international norms.

Let us be fair, ONLF never had that chance. To the contrary, both USA and EU paid for the salary, equipment, and the training of 350,000 - 500,000 Ethiopian military. ONLF is only backed by a very poor country, Eriteria, and none of the neighbouring countries wants to harbour ONLF fighters the same way Pakistan gives sanctuary to the Taliban, Uganda and Kenya to the SPLA, and Al-Shabaab maintain its own territories where they could receive shipment thru the ports they control.

To be frank, ONLF is operating in very difficult circumstances.

[udun]

PL has not "secured" its borders (just parts of Sool & Cayn to be precise) because there is political upheaval among the Dhulbahante (which I cannot elaborate on since I am not Dhulbahante), and as a result there has been confusion in the region as well as mixed loyalties due to neighboring Somaliland buying out Dhulbahante figures to switch loyalties.

I answered your question, now stop being emotional and answer the topic.

There again a weak answer SL brought its army and took the region by force when PL forces were chased out it has nothing to do with Dhulbahante etc.
So if you guys cannot retake SSC from an unrecognised entity how do you expect ONLF which became an effective Guarille force (in 2000-2005) to up root an army that gets close to a billion dollars a year and has a millitary force of 200k + which is dispensible? further more you have to understand facts that in the Ogaden folks had been resettling after migrating from refugee camps in the 90's and thanks to the cooperation of your likes you have been more of a setback than a blessing.

Patriot, the Sool issue is due to a local division. We're divided and that is the reason.

[Monk-of-Mogadishu]

Because they are fighting a formidable well equipped army not a ragtag millitia equiped with tecknikos. Guul ONLF

Ethiopia is not a formidable army by any means. In 1994 Chechen rebels launched a war on RUSSIA, won, and got temporary independence without interference for a full 3 years before the Russians launched their return invasion.

Patriot, you are making cheap excuses instead of answering with honest criticism. If you really want to ask a PL or Dhulbahante-related question, go to the proper sections and make a topic for it. Stop crying.

Udun, ONLF could be harbored by their wealthy neighboring cousins in Kenya or their kin in the Jubbas or even strategic warlords inside Somalia, but they have failed to even unite their core clan base and they've failed utterly to capitalize on the politics of neighboring countries, which give them favor. Pakistan did not harbor the Taliban, independent Pashtun tribes, politicians, and businessmen harbored the Taliban - because the Taliban maintained strong links across Pakistan (in Islamabad, Baluchistan, and the Pashtun areas) throughout their active years. They also acquired foreign connections who provided financing and even military training. The biggest failure of the ONLF is its absolute strategic retardation. Every other respectable foreign opposition group has deep foreign connections as well as strong ties with kinsmen in neighboring countries; look at the various Kurdish movements, all of them have a base in Iraqi Kurdistan and strong ties to their European diaspora and related organizations across the globe; Al-Shabaab has a global jihadi network that provides training, weapons, cash, and additional fighters, and SPLM created a strong backing in the diaspora. The list goes on. ONLF has utterly failed at setting up any kind of contingencies and it failed to capitalize on anything, they don't even try. In the 1980s, Zenawi used to hustle and beg and even scam donors in order to raise funds, you will not see ONLF going that far to get funding, that's why they wear cheap clothes and their guns are rusted while Al-Shabaab have fresh uniforms, shiny AK47s, and like-new vehicles.

[quark]

Bro, they have tanks, heavy weoponry and planes
ONLF is doing the best it can without getting help from anyone.