The Oromo Liberation Front was formed in 1973 with the objective of fighting for a separate state for the Oromo people, one of the largest ethnic groups in Ethiopia. [ "Oromo Rebels Say They Killed 13 Ethiopian Troops", Reuters, 19 September 1989.] Africa Confidential reported that OLF's activities in the remote provinces of Hararge, Bale and Sidamo were poorly documented prior to 1979. [ "Ethiopia: The Oromo Factor", Africa Confidential, London: Miramoor Publications, 18 July 1984, p.1.] It's guerrilla base was weakened by a decision to carry out "semi-clandestine political action" both inside and outside the government. Consequently, the Oromo lost "thousands of lives during the Dergue's Red Terror Campaign to rid the bureaucracy of OLF members and alleged sympathizers. [ Ibid.] In 1979 the OLF began to reform its organization and to wage guerrilla warfare. [ Ibid.]

The OLF was reported to have set up an office in Mogadishu "which enabled it to cooperate more closely with the Western Somali Liberation Front (WSLF). [ Henry W. Degenhardt, Revolutionary and Dissident Movements, London: Longman, 1988, p.104.] The Somali government reportedly closed the OLF office in Mogadishu in 1982 while the OLF opened a new front in Wollega. [ Ibid. Africa Confidential.] By March 1984. the OLF Wollega units were allegedly made up of five hundred guerrillas as the organization was said to have experienced difficulties due to the unsure view of it's early political and military strength. [ Ibid. p.2.]

In 1982, the OLF ambushed "a battalion-sized contingent of government troops" killing 60 people, including "the political commissioner of Wollega", and wounding 200 others. [ Ibid. p.2.] It was reportedly after this incident that "the OLF's prestige among the Oromo in Wollega increased markedly, as did their numbers. [ Ibid. p.2.]

OLF operations, reported to cover three western provinces, are divided into four command areas: the eastern sector "based in the Chercher mountains of Hararghe, the south-eastern sector in the mountain districts of Bale and Arsi, "including some parts of Sidamo, "the western sector in Wollega and the central sector. This latter sector was formed to prepare the ground for future activity in the Awash valley of Shoa province. [ Ibid. p.2.]

According to Revolutionary and Dissident Movements, the OLF has been receiving military training from the Eritrean People's
Liberation Front (EPLF). [ Henry W. Degenhardt (1988), p.104., "Ethiopian Rebels Free Six Cuban Hostages", Reuter, 17 April 1990. Attached.]

For information regarding recent OLF activities in Ethiopia, please consult the following excerpts from the following documents:

"Ethiopia Pro-EPLF Radio Praise Achievements of Oromo Liberation Front", BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 13 March 1989.

"Ethiopia: Oromo Rebel Radio Condemns Government's Villagisation", BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 1 September 1988.

"Ethiopian: Oromo Rebels Report 22 Government Troops Killed", BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 10 April 1990.

"Ethiopia: Oromo Rebel Radio Criticizes Resettlement Programme", BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 26 February 1990.

"Six Cuban Medics Captured by Ethiopian Rebels, Embassy Says", Reuters, 10 January 1990.

"Obscure Rebel Group Claims Western Ethiopian Town", The Associated Press, 5 January 1990.

"Rebels in Western Ethiopia Say They Killed Nearly 1,000 Troops", Reuters, 5 January 1990.