Somalia welcomes and supports ONLF-Ethiopia talks- Foreign Minister

Somalia has welcomed the ongoing talks between the government of Ethiopia and the political movement Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) terming them as important for stability of the region.

Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad told the media Wednesday the talks in Nairobi which have lasted for close to a week sponsored by Kenya are instrumental for peace and ‘Somalia supports the outcome’.

“We see every negotiation that brings peace, security and stability to the region as very useful, and we welcome and support it,” said Awad.

ONLF remains a banned a terrorist group in Ethiopia alongside Ginbot7 and Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) according to the controversial 2010 Anti-Terrorism law.

Somalia declared former ONLF leader in Somalia Abdikarim Muse aka Qalbi Dhagah a terrorist and subsequently handed him to Ethiopia last year sparking public outrage among Somalis.

Ali Korane the governor of Garissa county in Kenya’s north east said the talks meetings ‘reaffirmed commitment to peaceful resolution of conflict.

“During the three days meeting the parties discussed political, security and socio-economic issues and reaffirmed their commitment to peaceful solution to end the conflict,” said Korane in a twitter post.