The Oromo Federal Congress (OFCO)
The Oromo Federal Congress (OFCO) has declared the peace talks between the federal government and the Oromo Liberation Army in Tanzania as a “crucial milestone in the history of the Oromo people” in a statement issued by its leaders this Saturday.
In a statement issued by the party today, the leaders gave answers to the questions raised by the journalists. In the same statement, among the questions submitted by the journalists, the most recent negotiation between the government and the Oromo Liberation Army in Tanzania was concluded without an agreement.
In the responses given by the leaders of the party regarding the negotiation, noting that they are happy with the start of the negotiation; They expressed that they hope that the next round of negotiations will be concluded well. Sultan Qasim, who spoke in this statement, said that the negotiation is an important historical milestone for the Oromo people. He added that “it is done to close the chapter of the long history of oppression and wounding of the Oromo people as a people with the Ethiopian government”.
It was announced in the middle of the week on Wednesday that the first round of talks between the federal government and the Oromo Liberation Army to peacefully end the years-long war in the Oromia region ended without an agreement. The talks, which have been held for nine days since Tuesday last week at the Emerald Resort and Spa on the coast of Muyuni in northeastern Zanzibar, ended without an agreement but were largely constructive, both parties said. The Oromo Liberation Army said that it was not possible to reach an agreement on key political issues, while the government said that it was not possible to reach an agreement on some issues in this phase of the discussion. However, both parties did not mention the issues on which they disagreed.
The BBC reported that it heard from the participants, but one of the issues that did not agree between the two parties in the Zanzibar talks between the federal government and the Oromo Liberation Army was the formation of a joint transitional government. Although the same issue was raised by journalists in today’s AFECO statement; The leaders of OFCO pointed out that there is no official statement from the Oromo Liberation Army about the establishment of a transitional government. Regarding the fact that the negotiations have been concluded without success, even though it was explained in this way by both parties; However, the leaders of OFCO said that “it is said that the negotiations have been broken, and this is not what our people want” and they called those who say this, “disturbing forces who want to prevent peace between the Oromo people and the people of Ethiopia”.
The leaders added that “the most difficult thing is to come to this negotiation” and said, “Sacrifices have been made for the things that have been consuming our people for the past 50 years to come to the table; It is still the nation that should play the highest role,” he added.
The negotiations between the government and the Oromo Liberation Army in Tanzania were reportedly led by Kenya and Norway.
