The government of Ethiopia and the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) discussed modalities of peace talks in Asmara, Eritrea yesterday. Ethiopian government delegation was led by Minister of Communications and Chairman of the Somali People Democratic Party, Ahmed Shide, according to Yemane Gebremeskel, Eritrea’s Information Minister.
The ONLF side was led by its Chairman, Admiral Mohamed Omar, he said on Twitter. According to a Joint statement issued by the government of Ethiopia and ONLF after the meeting, the parties have reached a common understanding on the issues discussed and the way forward.“Substantive talks will be finalized soon,” the statement added.
ONLF, a separatist group established in 1984, had been labelled a terrorist organisation by the Ethiopian government, until recently when parliament passed a resolution removing three organisations including Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and Patriotic Ginbot 7 (PG7) off the list.
ONLF has since declared a ceasefire and is now having formal talks with the Ethiopian government. This week, ONLF’s foreign secretary, Ahmed Yassin Abdi told the media that the organisation ‘will demand a referendum on self-determination’.‘‘We want to achieve self-determination recognized by international law under the current Ethiopian constitution,