Document #1295705
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
The Oromo Liberation Front (OLF),a major
liberation movement active in southern Ethiopia, reportedly claims
to operate throughout Bale province ["Ethiopia: The Oromo Factor",
Africa Confidential, Vol. 14, No. 15, 18 July 1984, p. 2.]
Formed in 1976, The OLF's main objective is to form an independent
Oromo state for the Oromos, Ethiopia's largest ethnic group.
However, it is claimed that the OLF does not want to break up the
Ethiopian state but would like to draw up a democratic constitution
with other Ethiopian nationals ["Ethiopia: Opposition Widens",
Africa Confidential, Vol. 21,
No. 10, p. 2.] Originally, the leadership of the OLF was reported
to compose of former landlords, disgruntled government officials,
and a large number of peasants. Apparently it now includes a group
of young intellectuals and former members of the All-Ethiopian
Socialist Movement (Meison) [Ibid., p. 2.]. The OLF draws
support from the Oromo tribesmen across western, central and
southern Ethiopia. The OLF is reportedly opposed to "the
government's policy of resettlement and villagization of the Oromo
communities." [Legum, Colin. "Ethiopia's Support Among Masses
Erodes as State Turns Communist", The Christian Science
Monitor, 13 July 1984, p. 73.] Other political parties in the
area included the Western Somalia Liberation Front (WSLF) and the
Somali Abo Liberation Front (SALF). The latter was dissolved by the
OLF with agreement from the Somali government.["Obscure Rebel Group
Claims Western Ethiopian Town", The Associated Press, 5
January 1990.] In 1980 the OLF opened an office in Mogadishu which
enabled it to cooperate more closely with the WSLF. [Degenhardt,
Henry, W., ed. Revolutionary and Dissident Movements: An
International guide, Burnt Mill, Essex: Longman Group UK Ltd.,
1988] However, relations between the OLF and WSLF reportedly
deteriorated after four of the OLF's supreme commanders were
allegedly killed by the WSLF squads. Relations between the Somali
government allegedly "went into irretrievable decline" leading to
the 1982 closure of the OLF office in Mogadishu.["Ethiopia: The
Oromo Factor", Africa Confidential, Vol.25, No.15, p.3].
In 1977, the OLF claimed its forces had
killed 1,500 Ethiopian soldiers in Bale province. ["Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia", The Associated Press, 12 September 1977, p. 88]
In 1984, OLF units in Wollega were reported to comprise 500
guerrillas. The OLF launched offensive action in Asosa, an
administrative area in western Ethiopia and claimed to have killed
65 enemy soldiers in February 1990.["Ethiopia Oromo Rebels Claim
"heavy losses" Inflicted on Government Forces", The British
Broadcasting Corporation, 3 March 1990].