ONLF free to restart political activities in Ogaden- President Omer

The newly appointed president of Somali state in Ethiopia Mustafa Omer has given a green-light to the separatist group ONLF to restart their political activities in the region following years of suppression by former leader Abdi Illey.

Following a joint meeting with the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) leader Hussein Nuur Saturday, Omer said his government will not only give room for the group but also facilitate its operations.

“[We] agreed to that the Somali regional administration will play a key role in enabling ONLF to fulfill its political programmes in the Somali region,” Omer said.

According to the statement, the two leaders also agreed to ‘immediately embark upon rehabilitation initiatives for the freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives ad lost their limbs in their anti-colonial struggle against the TPLF’.

The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) which is a faction of the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPDRF) bitterly fought with ONLF for years. Former Somali state leader Illey was largely accused of suppressing ONLF with the support of TPLF. The newly elected leader added that the two sides agreed to resume official peace talks between the government of Ethiopia and ONLF.

Meanwhile ONLF spokesman Abdikadir Hirmoge has reiterated his group’s support for the Omer’s administration.“We will embrace symbols of unity in the region and ready to work with the system of the new government,” Hirmoge told Goobjoog News