ONLF Military Communique

24 April 2007

Before dawn this morning At 0430 AM local time in Ogaden, the 'Dufaan' commando unit of the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) conducted a military operation in the vicinity of Obala, 30km North-West of Degah-Bur in in Northern Ogaden. The operation targeted 3 military units of the TPLF regime who were guarding an oil exploration field.

TPLF forces in Obala have now been wiped out with many having surrendered to ONLF commandos. The oil facility has been completely destroyed.

The ONLF has stated on numerous occassions that we will not allow the mineral resources of our people to be exploited by this regime or any firm that it enters into an illegal contract with so long as the people of Ogaden are denied their rights to self-determination.

By refusing to discuss a comprehensive political solution to the Ogaden issue in a neutral country and in the presence of a third party, the TPLF regime has made clear its intention to continue to pursue a military solution in Ogaden. As such, we wish to reaffirm to the international community that the Ogaden region continues to be a battle zone between armed forces of the current TPLF led regime and our liberation forces. It is not a safe environment for any oil exploration to occur. We urge all international oil companies to refrain from entering into agreements with the Ethiopian government as it is not in effective control of the Ogaden despite the claims it makes.

Oil investments in Ogaden will result in a similar loss for any firm that believes assurances of security it recieves from the Ethiopian government which has never been in effective control of Ogaden.

Further details will be forthcoming.

Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF)
onlfpress@onlf.org