Ethiopia rebels claim massive counter-offensive
Ethiopia rebels claim massive counter-offensive
Ethiopian rebels have launched a wide offensive in the southeastern Somali ethnic Ogaden region and recaptured seven towns from government forces, they claimed Saturday in a statement.
The Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) said in a statement received by AFP that it had launched a broad offensive on several fronts on November 10.
“The operation involved thousands of ONLF troops and resulted in two days of heavy fighting. A significant number of Ethiopian troops have been killed and their military hardware captured or destroyed,” it said.
The ONLF said its forces entered the towns of Obolka, Hamaro, Higlaaley, Yucub, Galadiid, Boodhaano and Gunogabo, where government forces had deployed troops and positioned military hardware.
“ONLF forces were warmly welcomed by the population in these areas and are administering medical care to those civilians killed by retreating Ethiopian occupation forces,” the statement said.
Formed in 1984, the ONLF is fighting for the independence of ethnic Somalis in Ethiopia’s oil-rich Ogaden region, who they say have been marginalised by Addis Ababa.
The Ethiopian military launched an offensive against ONLF rebels after they attacked a Chinese-run oil venture in Ogaden in April 2007, killing 74 people.
In April, Ethiopia said it had significantly weakened the rebels, a claim the insurgents dismissed. - AFP
Why doesn’t Ethiopia let these people secede, if they want to…. This people are nothing but trouble….
And By the way , where are they heading to ….. to join the war torn Somalia? …. hahaha
Bedilo bel,
This people are neither nothing nor trouble and by the way are not heading to war torn Somalia.
They are staying put in Ogaden-their very own land. It may help to keep your frustration in check and in the event you can’t do so try to say something that makes sense.
This people are fighting for their own God given right on their own soil, they are not willing to surrender and allow to be enslaved by TPLF gangsters, and they after and invading other peoples’ lands.
If that is what is frustrating you, then hard luck. Rest assured though that more of the same will be coming in the future and with more frequency. Be prepared for that.
ONLF fithing with the golden lion of est Afrika(woyane the great?) OMG. ONLF watch your ass soon very soon the sons of ALULA gonna blow your fuck@n head off LOOOOOOL. GOD BLESS ETHIOPIA VIVA WOYANNE KICK THES ZELAN TERRORIST OUT OF ETHIOPIA
HAHAHA……………………. You are a real dreamer.Do you think we wanna live with you ……don’t make me laugh..HAHAHA………
Ok, I understand the grievance of the Ogadeni and the Ormo ppl.That was because of the ethnic and religious oppression in the past. But now, although there is not much of democracy they are not oppressed based on Ethnicity or religion.These two ppl should lay their arms and work through constructive struggle like every body else. They have Jijiga University now, right ? there are kilometers of road being built . It is not like the times of Hailesilase …etc…. so what do they need more ? Gif new!! zim bilo mamarer!!
VORACIOUS You fool the roads are being built to bring the tanks to the poor Somalis villages and complete the genocide by chasing the nomads, One University in an area which amounts to 1/5 th of the total Ethiopia is really an insult.To top it off there are people who say GIF NEWW MAMARER and even try to compare Hailesellasie with Meles .Hailesselasie was very inclusive of all for development and schools.According to Peter Heinlin of VOA Zenawi was angry that Ambassador Douglas Griffiths of the US acknowledged in front of the UN Human Rights Council members in Geneva in December of 2009 ,that “{senior government positions were held by one ethnic group in Ethiopia ie Tigrayans”. This truthful statement sent the foul mouthed dictator Meles ranting and raving and calling Ambassador Griffths an idiot. So why did Meles go ballistic at Ambassador Griffiths’ statements?If it wasnot a legitimate accusation that went from the dark into the light?