July 24, 2026
Staff Reporter
NAIROBI, Kenya — The Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) has formally rejected Ethiopia’s ongoing National Dialogue, accusing the National Dialogue Commission of manipulating delegates, suppressing regional concerns, and orchestrating a tightly controlled process.
In an official statement released this week, the ONLF condemned the body—referencing it as the “so-called Commission”—for undermining the core mandate of national reconciliation. Citing reports from conference participants, the Front alleged that organizers coerced delegates into abandoning custom-prepared regional agendas, forcing participants instead to confine discussions to eight pre-approved topics set by the Commission.
The ONLF further accused the Commission of handpicking non-neutral facilitators, turning what should be an open national forum into a one-sided, directed exercise. Consequently, the Front declared its firm opposition to the dialogue in its current form and urged political stakeholders to scrutinize the Commission’s conduct.
Beyond procedural flaws, the ONLF highlighted alarming proposals allegedly submitted during recent sessions. According to the Front, key discussions aim to replace Ethiopia’s current multi-ethnic federal system with geographic federalism—a shift the group warns would dismantle existing constitutional rights for ethnic groups.
Specifically, the Front expressed strong alarm over proposals seeking to:
- Abolish regional administrations in favor of state-appointed governors over elected representatives.
- Replace collective ethnic rights with individual rights.
- Repeal or amend Article 39 of the Ethiopian Constitution, which guarantees the right of nations, nationalities, and peoples to self-determination, including secession.
Founded in 1974, the ONLF historically fought an armed struggle for the self-determination of Ethiopia’s Somali Region before signing a peace agreement with the federal government in 2018. Despite participating in peaceful politics, the Front remains deeply skeptical of centralized processes that exclude genuine local representation.
To restore credibility to the process, the ONLF outlined three core demands for a viable dialogue:
- Uncoerced participation of all political and ethnic groups.
- Guaranteed freedom of expression for all attending delegates.
- An independent, transparent mediation process completely free from government interference.
The ONLF’s rejection adds to mounting pressure on the National Dialogue Commission, which faces broader scrutiny over funding transparency, delegate job security, and procedural irregularities. The Commission has not yet issued a formal response to the ONLF’s latest allegations.
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