(OPride) — A five-person delegation of the Oromo Democratic Front (ODF) party is due to arrive in Ethiopia on Wednesday for “substantive talks” with the government. Founded in exile in 2013 by veteran Oromo leaders, ODF is returning to the country to pursue peaceful struggle.
The move follows repeated overtures by the ruling party in Oromia, the Oromo People’s Democratic Organization (OPDO), that it is ready to work with all Oromo-based opposition groups within the perimeters of the Ethiopian constitution. OPDO chairman and Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed has also repeatedly expressed his government’s readiness to open up the political space and engage with critics at home and abroad.
Fitsum Arega, the Chief of Staff for Prime Minister Abiy, confirmed on Twitter that the ODF delegation will arrive in Ethiopia on Wednesday for “political consultation” with the government. He added that the Ethiopian government encourages other exiled opposition parties to “follow suit.”
To promote sustainable peace consistent with #Ethiopian Constitution, gov’t has invited the political opposition for consultation. As part of this effort the leadership of Oromo Democratic Front (ODF) is due to arrive in Addis tomorrow. The gov’t encourages others to follow suit.
— Fitsum Arega (@fitsumaregaa) May 22, 2018
ODF’s return to Ethiopia is expected to herald the beginning of a much-needed reconciliation for the country whereby all dissidents groups, including those proscribed as terrorists, will be brought into the democratic fold.
Ethiopia is emerging from nearly four years of resilient anti-government protests, mostly by ethnic Oromos, that facilitated Abiy’s rise to power. Since his election on April 2, the new premier has moved away from the ruling party’s hitherto insistence on developmentalism in which one strong, vanguard party dominates the political space.
In his speeches and tours, Prime Minister Abiy has prioritized peace and reconciliation. His government has freed thousands of prisoners. He personally appealed for and won the release of thousands more held in Sudanese, Kenyan, Saudi and Emirati prisons.
ODF’s return to Ethiopia follows a meeting with representatives of the Ethiopian government in Dubai earlier this month. “Pursuant to its long-standing public position, the ODF reiterated its commitment to deepening and broadening the reforms and democratization process,” ODF said in a statement on May 13 after that meeting. “The government delegation also expressed its enthusiasm to engage all those espousing nonviolent means of struggle.”
The ODF delegation, led by Lencho Lata, the group’s chairman, includes Dima Nago, Lencho Bati, Bayan Asoba and Hassan Hussein. They were all once senior leaders of the outlawed Oromo Liberation Front. The delegates are expected to be welcomed on Wednesday morning by senior Oromia regional government officials and members of the public.
Breaking: The opposition Oromo Democratic Front (ODF) has reached an agreement with the #Ethiopia government to return to the country and pursue peaceful struggle. ODF reps expected to arrive in Addis Ababa for “substantive talks” in coming days. pic.twitter.com/GzHvwq92xJ
— Mohammed Ademo (@OPride) May 13, 2018
ODF is led by veteran Oromo leader and one of the founders of the OLF, Mr. Lencho Lata Waqayo. Dima Nago, a one-time OLF chairman is currently ODF’s vice-chairman. Some background here: https://t.co/DP3BnVeStw
— Mohammed Ademo (@OPride) May 13, 2018
In 2015 #Ethiopia authorities told a senior delegation of ODF led by Lata to leave the country barely 24 hours after the group returned to negotiate with the ruling party. https://t.co/IxUoFI4qq2 TODAY’s agreement follows a recent pledge by the OPDO to work with all Oromo groups.
— Mohammed Ademo (@OPride) May 13, 2018
“Returning to our country and establishing itself among its constituents at home, and establishing a legal status in order to play its part in our country’s democratization has been and continues to be the ODF’s highest priority,” the group said in a statement on Tuesday.
“We would relentlessly continue with our efforts to engage all political actors in our country to realize a just and genuinely democratic order, and sustainable and equitable development in Ethiopia.”
ODF on its delegation’s return to #Ethiopia: “returning to our country and establishing itself among its constituents at home, and establishing a legal status in order to play its part in our country’s democratization has been and continues to be the ODF’s highest priority.” pic.twitter.com/ujiCCBgXmw
— Mohammed Ademo (@OPride) May 22, 2018
