Witnesses say Ethiopian troops back in Somalia

Press TV

Press TV
Heavily-armed Ethiopian vehicles have reportedly crossed into south central Somalia, seizing the family of a man with Al-Shabab links. ...read more

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Somalia: More Ethiopian Troops Reach in El-Berde in Southern Region
AllAfrica.com
More heavily armored Ethiopian troops with many Somali transitional government soldiers have reached at El-berde village in Bakol region in southern Somalia ...

Ethiopian troops cross into two Somali towns-locals Reuters AlertNet By Mohamed Ahmed and Abdi Sheikh MOGADISHU, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Ethiopian troops in armoured vehicles crossed into two border towns in south central Somalia ...

Exchange of gunfire on Eritrea-Ethiopia border: UN

AFP -
ADDIS ABABA (AFP) — The United Nations said Thursday that Eritrean and Ethiopian soldiers facing off along their disputed border exchanged gunshots a day ...read more


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www.voanews.com
Eritrea has accused Ethiopia of attacking its security forces along the two countries' disputed border.

ONLF Statement On African Union Summit

Wednesday, 03 February 2010 13:43 Ogaden Online

ONLF Logo

As the heads of State of the African Union (AU) convene, the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) wishes to note the continuing suffering of the people of Ogaden at the hands of the host nation of the ongoing AU summit. The Ethiopian regime has a well documented and systematic campaign of persecution against the people of Ogaden.read more

Bashir genocide ruling reversed

International judges reverse a ruling that there is insufficient proof to charge Sudan's president with genocide in Darfur. Profile: President Bashir Q&A: Sudan's Darfur conflict Ruling reversed Source: BBC

US envoy pledges to press Ethiopia on rights

Hearing | U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations | The Honorable Donald E. Booth, of Virginia to be Ambassador to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
(Amb. Booth’s testimony starts ~13:40min into the video)

Related news:

AFP

AFP
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama's nominee to be the next US ambassador to Ethiopia pledged on Tuesday to press the government in Addis Ababa to improve ...US read more

Olola Diinaatiin Abdi hin kutatinaa

Oromo language conference in Finfinne

www.norway.org.et

Obbo Debela Amante, a linguistics PhD student at the University of Oslo, is planning an academic conference on the Oromo language to take place in Addis Ababa later this year.

Debela Goshu Amante. Photo: Royal Norwegian Embassy in Addis Ababa

Escaping the Norwegian winter for a while, Debela Amante is back in his native Ethiopia doing fieldwork for his dissertation on “The Semantics of Omoro Adpositions”, as well as lecturing at the University of Addis Ababa and preparing an academic conference on the Oromo language. He takes time to share his vision with the Norwegian Embassy.

The Oromo language, spoken by about one third of Ethiopians as well as in parts of Kenya and Somalia, was introduced as formal language of instruction in Ethiopia in 1991. However, Mr. Amante notes that there is as of yet no standardised written form of the Oromo language and that Oromo researchers in Europe and North America are not well connected with researchers in Ethiopia. To remedy this he and his colleagues are planning an Oromo language conference to be organised in Addis Ababa in the second half of 2010. In the longer term, Debele Amante hopes to see an Oromo language academy established.

Mr. Amante encourages anyone interested in more information to contact him (click here for contact details).

Gantuudha mannaa Shimala koo gaarii Wayya

Gantuu Liichoo Bukuraa fi kittilayyota isaa

Oromo: from Self-Deception via Self-Adminstration to Self-Determination

Fayyis Oromia

Few days back, one “breaking news” from Oromia came out telling the world that the beginning of 2010 is “the end for the armed struggle of the Oromo liberation movement, i.e. the OLF is almost dead.” Is this fact or fancy? Are the news makers deceiving themselves or are they devoid of the sense for reality? Did the consumers of the news fall into the trap of buying the reason for the merrymaking in the Weyane camp in the last few days? Here, I do try to show how almost all stakeholders are living in self-deception as far as the Oromo liberation movement is concerned. I think the following groups do live under such self-made “reality” about Oromo, Oromia and the Oromo liberation struggle: read more
Oromo Times

Sagantaa Addaa Amajjii 2010 : Gantoota Maqaa ABOn Daldalaa Turaniifi Daldalaa Jiran Kaleessa fii Har'a

bilisummaa.com

Gantoota 2010 kutaa lammaffaa Amajjii 25, 2010 Maxxanfame >> Daawwadhu/Watch

Fuula Kolonoomaa Haara

Duubbee

Bara Walharkati qaba Afrikaa dhuma jaarraa 19ffaa n lafa keenya dhabne, gidiraa fi salphina kana hin jedhamneen mankaraarfamne. Sun tahus osoo ofirraa hin faccisin akka hawwa diina keenyaa himannaa konkaa mirkanii hin qabne “lafa saa harkaa baasnaan jireenyi Oromo ni dhumataaf” jedhuu hin taane. Sun hundi tahe Oromummaan seenaa barasii irra baraaramuun, eenyummaan Oromoon hin tuqamin gilgila bahe. Akkuma yeroo amma kana anjaa yoo hin qabaannellee haalicha fuggisiisuuf jara hedhannoo nurra olhaanaa qaban waliin qabsoo hin irraanfatamne goone. Sun jalqaba kolonummaa kan bowwuu jaarraa tokkoo duuba rimsama sobaa “baaqulessaa” kan jedhamu waliin dhufuu jiru farrisa ture. Wanti tokkoo garuu kan darbeen walfakaata...read more

ABOn diina ofitti damaqsaa jira

Yero ABOn waa falachuu jalqabu farri sochii saa akka alaa itti aggaamamu muxannoon hubatameera. Gocha Oromoo hobbaatii tolaa fidu hunda hankaaksuuf faallaan sochii hammi dandahamu hundi gad dhiifama. Dheheenya waa’een murnooti ABO dhaaba saanii dhinsuu fi jabeesuuf waliti dhufuu hedduu dubbatamaa ture. Osoo hin turin WBOn kibbaa ficiluun himame. Gaaffiin saanii akka ABOn tokkomuu yoo tahu, isaan dhaaba tokkichaaf malee akka hin sarmine labsan. Yeroo dubbiin akka isaan yaadaniti deemuu didu ficiltuu keessaa hangi tokkoo gananii loltuu Tigrayiti harka kennachuun himame...guutuu isa dubbisuuf

OLF is awaking its Enemies

From experience there are external counter movements whenever OLF internally shows a tendency towards salvation. All possible contra movements are released to sabotage any positive outcome from Oromo actions. Recently much was talked about groups in the OLF coming together to heal past organizational wounds and strengthen it in unison. No sooner was it heard that there is a mutiny in OLA of Southern zone. They demanded for unity of OLF and declared that they will not obey any individual group. When it seemed things are not going as planned a segment from the mutineers defected to the Tigrian army. The core individuals involved were persons who exited the scene before their entrance made any impression on the struggle. On the other hand, they became propaganda chips for the enemy. The TPLF suspects that all Oromo including some conscientious in the Ethiopianist Oromo camps are OLF deep inside. That is why thousand innocent Oromo are in prison. Thousands were killed and thousands are in forced exile. Unknown numbers are dislocated internally. Even Oromo members of the OPDO are subjected to constant reevaluation and are discarded if their loyalty is found not to be absolute. From statements the defectors gave to enemy media one can notice that those people neither know this truth nor understand the essence of Oromo liberation struggle. Oromo liberation movement is not concerned with individual success or failures, be them leaders or followers, but with the sprit and aspirations of the people, with its kaayyoo. Individuals come and go but the task of liberating the nation requires the determination of the brave descendents of the Abbaa Gadaas. Cowards with shallow intellect fail to understand this. They don’t think with their brains but their bellies that is why they have no honor to protect but the urge to fill their bellies. Those that are neck deep into alien values and those that do not take what it means to lose independence as a people into consideration in their methods of system analysis also cannot understand. For all problems they come out with their globalization yardsticks to intimidate liberation fighters.Full Article (Gubirmans.com)

OLF and Oromo – Time Has Come: Unity Now or Never

(OPride.com – Oromsis)

Whether this grim news is the end or a new beginning in Oromo struggle for self-determination will depend on what corrective action that will be taken. In the meantime, the writer most sincerely hopes, the other factions will not welcome the developments as good news to only legitimize their brand of OLF. I urge all parties to drop the “I told you so” attitude and grasp the moment for a coalition of all Oromos, including freedom fighters and Oromo Liberation organizations to emerge. It is also high time for the general public and supporters of the OLF to cease banking on false hope and come forward to face an uncomfortable reality.

As such, the surrender of Oromo fighters, large or small, may be a temporary deterrence, not by any means a permanent setback. So long as the legitimate Oromo quest for peace, justice and equality doesn’t get an appropriate answer, the struggle against an unjust system will continue. It may take many forms; this year may not be ours – slowly, but surely, my people, freedom and justice will be won.

– Full Story (OPride.com – Oromsis)

Gantuu Wayyaaneeti harkka kennate

ETV | Personnel Desert from the OLF-Led Oromo People's Struggle Read More » » »

Some 74000 Africans cross Gulf of Aden to Yemen in record-breaking year

UNHCR (Press release)GENEVA, December 18 (UNHCR) – More than 74,000 Africans, fleeing civil war, political instability, poverty, famine and drought in the Horn of Africa, crossed the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea on smugglers' boats and reached the shores of Yemen this year. This figure represents a staggering 50 per cent increase over last year's 50,000 arrivals, itself a record.

Refugees and migrants make the risky journey under harrowing conditions. In some cases they are beaten, raped, killed or just thrown overboard into the shark-infested waters. In addition, the overloaded and overcrowded boats sometimes capsize, resulting in the drowning of many onboard.

According to the latest UNHCR statistics, at least 309 people drowned or did not survive the trip this year. In 2008, some 590 people died during the crossing. Many more people went missing and are presumed dead. The mixed migration route through the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea is presently the busiest and the deadliest one in the world.

Unlike in previous years, Somalis are no longer the majority of arrivals. With nearly 32,000 Somali arrivals this year their number remains steady in comparison to 2008. However, the number of Ethiopians reaching Yemen more than doubled this year to above 42,000.

While virtually all arriving Somalis approach the two, strategically positioned reception centres in Mayfaa and Ahwar, where they receive protection and assistance, only some 9,000 Ethiopians went to these venues this year. Most press on towards the Persian Gulf states in search of job opportunities.

The Mayfaa and Ahwar reception centres are open for all nationalities arriving in Yemen. In addition to provision of temporary shelter and assistance, they offer information and possibilities to apply for asylum and issue passes, valid for 10 days, for onward travel to Sana'a or Aden, where refugee status determination is carried out.

Upon arrival in Yemen, all Somali nationals are automatically recognized as refugees by the Yemeni authorities, under its group recognition policy. Presently, Yemen hosts some 150,000 Somali refugees. Other nationalities, including Ethiopians, wishing to apply for asylum are required to undergo the refugee status determination procedure conducted by UNHCR. The refugee agency believes some Ethiopian arrivals may have avoided approaching the reception centres, fearing arrest and detention as those who do not apply for asylum and are found to be in the country illegally could be deporte

Ethiopia: Rebels spread jitters in oil region

By Barry Malone

JIJIGA, Ethiopia, Dec 11 (Reuters) - A rebel group's claims to have captured seven towns and killed 1,000 soldiers in fierce fighting in Ethiopia's oil-producing Ogaden region are almost certainly exaggerated, foreign aid workers in the region say.

Ethiopia's Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) staged bold raids on government positions last month and aid workers say several hundred people were probably killed on both sides.

But while the guerrillas are capable of causing instability in the vast Somali region, which includes the Ogaden and accounts for one-fifth of the country's landmass, experts say they cannot hold territory.

"They attacked more than twenty places," one aid worker, who asked not to be identified, told Reuters in Jijiga, the regional capital. "But they only managed to take one town, not seven." Continued...

Ethiopia: Meles insults US Ambassador

VOA
'The dominant role of ethnic Tigrayans in the government, especially in the military, has often been a contentious political issue in Ethiopia. Tigrayans make up about six percent of the population.

But Prime Minister Meles flatly rejected Ambassador Griffiths' assertions. "I have not heard of such idiocy. But if it has occurred, it proves the idiocy of the person in Geneva," he said. read more

Canadian gets life sentence in Ethiopia

Canadian gets life sentence in EthiopistarPhoenex - Canada
He was found guilty last week on three charges related to membership of the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF). "The court has decided against the ...read more

Ethiopia: International Crisis Group Warns of Potential for 'Violent ...

Voice of America
A new International Crisis Group report says Ethiopia is becoming an authoritarian one-party state, and warns that government policies there could lead to a violent eruption ahead of next year's elections. The report also faults the international community for downplaying Ethiopia's weak democracy.

The 40-page report by the International Crisis Group says that despite its democratic rhetoric, the government of Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi is ... read more