The Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) has issued a strong condemnation of what it describes as a state-backed attempt to dismantle its elected leadership, warning that the move threatens to unravel the 2018 peace agreement with the Ethiopian government and risks pushing the region back toward instability.
In a statement released on May 14, ONLF’s Executive Committee alleged a coordinated campaign by the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) and the Somali Regional Administration to override the party’s internal structure and install political loyalists.
“This is not a technical disagreement. It is a deliberate and reckless effort to erase ONLF’s political voice,” the statement declared, adding that such actions could provoke renewed conflict in a historically sensitive region.
Accusations of Orchestrated Interference
The ONLF claims the alleged interference involves an effort to delegitimize the party’s democratically elected Central Committee, ignore its constitutional framework, and replace its leadership with individuals aligned with the ruling Prosperity Party.
At the heart of the dispute is a rival faction’s claim to have removed ONLF Chairman Abdirahman Mahdi and installed Abdikarim Sheikh Muse in his place—an action ONLF has dismissed as “fraudulent” and “politically orchestrated.”
The group also cited recent incidents, including directives barring ONLF’s regional offices from operating, as violations of international legal instruments that protect political participation and the rights of indigenous communities.
Historical Disputes and Alleged Bias by Electoral Authorities
The ONLF outlined what it called a “pattern of interference” dating back to 2019, when NEBE reportedly refused to recognize the outcomes of the party’s Godey Congress, despite the submission of required documentation. The Board, according to ONLF, continued to reference outdated bylaws from an earlier temporary congress in Qabridahare, creating confusion over the party’s legitimate governance structure.
The statement also accused NEBE of rejecting disciplinary actions taken by the party in 2021, including the expulsion of 22 members for allegedly collaborating with external political forces to undermine the party’s leadership.
More recently, ONLF claims that in April 2025, NEBE accepted a list of 60 individuals said to have suspended the chairman and called for a new congress. According to ONLF, most signatories were either expelled, resigned, affiliated with other parties, or had never been official members—rendering the list “entirely fabricated.”
Warning Against Destabilization and Call for International Action
ONLF warned that such maneuvers are not only unconstitutional but could severely destabilize the Somali region, erode trust in federal institutions, and violate Ethiopia’s commitments under both domestic and international law.
“This is a dangerous attempt to provoke ONLF into a conflict it has chosen to leave behind,” the statement read. “We reaffirm our commitment to peaceful political engagement but will not stand by as our rights are stripped away.”
The group called on the United Nations, African Union, IGAD, and international partners to intervene diplomatically, uphold the 2018 peace accord, and hold the Ethiopian government accountable for actions that undermine democratic rights and regional stability.