Source: Reuters
The first round of peace talks between the Ethiopian government and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), a rebel group from the Oromiya region, concluded without reaching an agreement. The conflict in the region has resulted in hundreds of deaths and the displacement of tens of thousands of people. The Oromiya region, home to Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group, the Oromos, has seen rebel groups fight the federal government for decades, accusing it of marginalization and neglect.
Despite the lack of a deal, the government described the talks as largely constructive and confirmed that discussions would continue. The talks were mediated by the regional Africa group IGAD and took place in Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous region of Tanzania. The ongoing violence in Oromiya presents a significant security challenge for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who is also dealing with the aftermath of a two-year civil war in the northern Tigray region.
The OLA, an outlawed splinter group of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), a formerly banned opposition party, expressed its willingness to continue the talks, despite no agreement being reached on key issues.