Joint Statement regarding the Fake Election in Ethiopia

May 25, 2015

The Ogaden National Liberation Front, The Oromo Liberation Front and the Sidama Liberation front categorically state that the so called elections held in Ethiopia on May 24, 2015, was not an expression of the democratic will of the all the peoples in Ethiopia. All Nations in Ethiopia were bullied and coerced into participating and electing specially selected candidates from the ruling party- EPRDF. Furthermore, in order to ensure that no “rogue voter” chose to disobey the ruling party edicts, the regime made sure that party operatives solely controlled the polling stations in all regionals states, such as Ogaden, Oromia, Sidama and other rural communities. In all these communities only single parties were allowed to campaign. In addition, Ethiopia is a country where journalists are called terrorists and detained for reporting. How can fair elections be held without free media?

Both the preparation, the process and the final results of this election were flawed intentionally; therefore the election process is not free, fair and impartial and does not conform to international standards. Thus, this illegitimate election is an insult to the people and direct violation of the human and democratic rights of all peoples in Ethiopia against both the edicts of the Ethiopian constitution, the AU and the UN conventions regarding the rights of peoples. It is not an accident that the international community opted out of observing this election except the AU, which has it HQ in Addis Ababa and has never raised its voice even once about the dire state of democracy in Ethiopia.

The Peoples in Ogaden, Oromia, Sidama and other oppressed nations in Ethiopia will continue their struggle against the tyrannical and undemocratic rule of the EPRDF regime until the democratic rights of all peoples in Ethiopia are fully recognised and implemented in a fair and transparent representative system. The Ethiopian regime’s mantra of claiming that they are a young democracy and learning has been going on for the last twenty years and is clumsy and unscrupulous attempt to justify its authoritarian rule.

ONLF, OLF and SLF calls upon all nations in Ethiopia to join their legitimate efforts to bring a democratic change in Ethiopia where all nations are accorded fully their democratic, social, religious and economic rights in real terms.

Victory to the Peoples

Issued jointly ONLF, OLF, SLF

May 25, 2015