On February 8, 2023, a consortium of Oromo diaspora communities and leading Oromo civil societies (including OLLAA) sent an open letter to the Ethiopian federal government, Oromia regional government, and Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), calling for a peaceful settlement of the conflict.
Since 2018, thousands of Oromo civilians have been killed, arrested, and tortured, and millions have been displaced. Recent escalations in anti-Oromo sentiment following the rift in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church have only exacerbated this dangerous climate.
In light of the vicious cycle of violence the Oromo people have faced, we – the Oromo diaspora communities and leading Oromo CSOs – believe it is time for the Ethiopian government and OLA to come to the negotiating table and seek a peaceful means to end the conflict in Oromia and Ethiopia.
However, in order to be successful, we believe that such peace talks should be led by the African Union with the support of the international community.
OLLAA urges the international community to heed the call of the Oromo people and do its part to help bring about a negotiated peace process to end the conflict in Oromia and Ethiopia, as it did in Tigray.
