Ethopian gov’t and Oromo rebels hold peace talks in Zanzibar

GOOBJOOG NEWS | ADDIS ABABA: Talks between the Ethiopian Government and the Oromo rebel group has kicked off in the Tanzanian Island of Zanzibar.

The talks comes days after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced that his government has agreed to enter into talks with the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA.

According to OLA spokesperson Odaa Tarbii, the talks kicked off Tuesday, the focus being confidence building and clarifying positions.

“I want to clarify these are preliminary talks meant to pave the way for comprehensive negotiations in the very near future. The focus, for now, is confidence building and clarifying position,” Odaa said.

The Spokesperson added that the talks are being mediated by Norway and Kenya and that the United States and the European Union as well the regional bloc IGAD are expected to also play a role in the talks.

Among government’s representatives in the talks are; Justice Minister Gedion Timotheos and Redwan Hussein, the prime minister’s national security adviser, according to the Oromo Legacy Leadership and Advocacy Association, a U.S.-based civic group.

Redwan led the negotiating team that agreed on the cease-fire with the Tigray rebels.

Prime Minister Abiy announced the formation of a “committee” to open talks with the OLA while addressing parliament late last month.

The OLA is listed as a terrorist group by Ethiopia’s parliament and has been accused of widespread atrocities, including a massacre of hundreds of villagers in June.

It however denies the allegations and says it is fighting for greater autonomy for the Oromo people, Ethiopia’s biggest group, who claim a historical sense of marginalization within the country’s federal system.