Ethiopian Regional Leader Challenges ONLF Faction Over Armed Rhetoric

Mustafa Muhumed Omar, the president of Ethiopia’s Somali Regional State, has issued a stark rebuke to a faction of the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) following statements suggesting a potential return to armed struggle. Speaking in Jigjiga, Omar characterized the group as politically ineffective, arguing that decades of their activism have resulted in stagnation rather than progress for the local community.

The criticism highlights a deepening fracture within the ONLF, which is currently split between two distinct leadership camps. While one faction continues to advocate for military options from outside the region, the other operates as a registered political party within the state. This internal division has complicated the political landscape, prompting state officials to question the legitimacy and support base of those calling for renewed conflict.

Regional leadership rejects conflict narrative

According to reports from GN geopolitics/war (en-US), Omar dismissed the rhetoric of the external ONLF faction as a strategy to create false expectations among the public. He described the group as consisting of "failed politicians" who have engaged in what he termed fruitless politics for over four decades. Omar emphasized that such groups lack the necessary political strength and popular support to drive meaningful change within the Somali region.

The regional president warned that the community should not be misled by promises of imminent political transformation through violence. He argued that the previous forty years of struggle had yielded only decline, citing a lack of tangible improvements in governance or development. By framing the ONLF’s external faction as offering no viable leadership, Omar sought to delegitimize their calls for a resumption of hostilities.

Fractures define ONLF internal politics

The ONLF currently faces significant internal divisions, with two major factions claiming representation of the organization. The faction led by Abdirahman Mohamed Sheikh Mahdi is based outside the region and has consistently opposed the policies of both the Somali Regional Government and the federal state. Recently, members of this group have indicated that a return to armed struggle is a realistic possibility.

In contrast, the faction led by Abdikarin Sheikh Muse Qalbidhagax is based in Jigjiga and has been registered as a political party within the region. This distinction places the two groups on opposing sides of the legal and political spectrum, with one operating outside state structures and the other participating within the regional political framework. This split has intensified debates over the future direction of ONLF politics and its relationship with the state.

Broader tensions shape regional outlook

These remarks occur against a backdrop of wider political tensions in Ethiopia, where the status of the Somali region remains a sensitive issue. The renewed debate over the ONLF’s strategy reflects broader uncertainties regarding the balance between political engagement and armed resistance in the area. Observers note that the clarity of the leadership structure is crucial for determining the trajectory of relations between the region and the federal government.

As the situation evolves, attention will likely turn to how the two ONLF factions navigate their competing claims and how the regional government responds to any further escalations in rhetoric. The coming weeks may reveal whether diplomatic channels remain open or if the rhetoric hardens into action, making the stability of the Somali region a key area for monitoring.