Northern Kenya

Tensions high in Marsabit as OLA, Ethiopian forces clash across the boarder

Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) rebels. (Photo: Courtesy)

By Waweru Wairimu | Monday, June 17, 2024

"Our officers are currently monitoring the situation, and a comprehensive report will be issued later," Acting Marsabit County Commissioner David Saruni told The Eastleigh Voice.

Tensions are high at Wario Guyo and Wako villages in Marsabit County within the Kenya-Ethiopia border following clashes between the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) and Ethiopian security forces.

Heavy gunfire exchanges were reported within the Dukale area of Ethiopia, which is about a kilometre away from the two villages in Anona Sub-Location and Obbu Division in Sololo Sub-County, necessitating the Kenyan security agencies to put locals on high alert.

Acting Marsabit County Commissioner David Saruni said security agencies were monitoring the situation to ensure Kenyans near the border are not affected.

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"Our officers are currently monitoring the situation, and a comprehensive report will be issued later," Saruni told The Eastleigh Voice.

Unconfirmed reports indicated that some of the residents are fleeing over fears that the clashes could spill over to the Kenyan villages.

The main cause of the gunfight remains unclear, but reports link it to the recent alleged atrocities against Oromos and April's killing of Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) officer Jaal Batte Urgessa, who was abducted from a hotel.

The late Bate Urgessa, a member of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), was killed while visiting his hometown of Meki in Oromia, Ethiopia in April 2024 (Photo: Addis Standard)

"The loss of our beloved and iconic officer, Jaal Batte Urgessa, who has been peacefully struggling against the unparalleled human rights abuses against his people, including torture, unlawful killings, disappearance, and mass arrest, has sent a clear message to our people: the survival of the Oromo conscious and human rights activists is in grave danger more than ever before.

"While mourning this loss, OLF is gravely concerned that there are several indications that the so-called investigation by the government lacks credibility from the get-go, as there are a lot of pieces of evidence of impartiality, obliteration of pieces of evidence, misinformation, and disinformation. OLF has credible information that while dragging him out of the hotel, the security men severely beat him, and he was screaming for orderly and dignified treatment in accordance with the law," OLF stated on its website.

OLA was formerly the Oromo Liberation Front's armed wing, but a fallout is said to have occurred due to differences over disarmament. OLA is considered by the Ethiopian government to be an outlawed group.

The opposition group had last month (on its website) alleged cases of looting on innocent citizens reportedly by top government and military officers in the Ganda Lilloo Chabeqa area and Bale, Arsi, and East Shewa zones.

The protracted conflict between the OLF, which is considered a legal political party by the Ethiopian government, and the state dates back to 1973, when it was formed to demand equality and protection of human rights for the Oromo people.

Over the years, it has been fighting alleged discrimination and marginalisation of Oromos through political and armed resistance against Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's regime.

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