News

War Against Tigray Divides Somalis In Ethiopia

Jigjiga (PP News Desk) — One day after the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed declared war against the Tigray region, the President of the Somali region of Ethiopia Mustafe Omer, held a press conference in Jigjiga.

“We support the decision of the Federal Government to carry out operations against (the) TPLF (Tigray People’s Liberation Front)” Mustafe said.

Abdirahman Mahdi, the ONLF Chairman, views dialogue and consensus as the only way forward for Ethiopians to reach a win-win solution.

The regional government he leads reportedly raised militias to be deployed at the border between the Afar region and Tigray.

The Somali Liyu police are currently fighting alongside Amhara regional forces against Tigrayan forces.

“The fact that the Amhara special forces are one of the units at the front fighting Tigray tells us many things!

This is a signal of state-led and state-facilitated civil war!” tweeted Henok G. Gabisa, an International Human Rights expert.

In 2019, the Somali Democratic Party, a satellite party, joined the Prosperity Party formed by Abiy Ahmed, and modelled on the now-defunct EPRDF.

Mustafe Omer, the president of the Somali Regional State in Ethiopia, is close to Amhara supremacists, and casts himself as warmonger.

The Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) has issued a position statement on the civil war in Ethiopia.

ONLF Logo

“ONLF is gravely concerned about the … outbreak of war in and around Tigray. The nations of Ethiopia have had their share of wars and natural disasters, and were expecting a period of reprieve and recuperation. Consensus and dialogue are the only way forward for all to reach a win-win solution” reads the statement.

“We oppose the decision of President Mustafe to portray Somalis in Ethiopia as supporters of the war against Tigray. We are against any state violence against citizens. The Liyu Police has not grown out of being an instrument of oppression for Addis Ababa” said a civil society member in Jigjiga who spoke to our Puntland Post correspondent on condition of anonymity.

This article first appeared in the © Puntland Post, 2020 and is republished with permission

Guest Article

Recent Posts

US House Speaker Mike Johnson cuts summer session short to avoid Epstein files vote

In a surprise move Tuesday, Speaker Mike Johnson announced that the House of Representatives would…

13 hours ago

Trump Administration releases 240,000 pages of FBI records on MLK Jr. despite family objections

The Trump administration has released over 240,000 pages of long-sealed FBI surveillance records related to…

2 days ago

At Least 73 killed, 150 injured by Israeli Gunfire while seeking aid in Gaza: Health Ministry

At least 73 Palestinians were killed and around 150 others injured by Israeli gunfire on…

2 days ago

Israel and Syria agree to ceasefire after week of deadly clashes in Sweida

Israel and Syria have agreed to a ceasefire following a week of intense violence in…

4 days ago

Israel says it ‘deeply regrets’ deadly strike on the only Catholic Church in Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed sorrow on Thursday after an Israeli strike hit Gaza’s…

5 days ago

Trump diagnosed with mild chronic venous insufficiency, White House confirms

The White House on Thursday confirmed that President Donald Trump has been diagnosed with chronic…

6 days ago