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Ethiopia Ogaden crisis

Last reviewed: 19-10-2009

Violence simmers in Ethiopia Somali region


The Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) has been fighting a long-running insurgency against the Ethiopian government, seeking more autonomy for the underdeveloped, ethnically Somali Ogaden region.

  • Troops accused of burning homes, displacing thousands
  • Rebels accused of rights abuses
  • Government restricts media and aid agency access to the region

    Ethiopian forces launched a major assault against the ONLF rebels - who have been fighting since 1994 - after they killed 74 people in an attack on a Chinese-run oil exploration field in April 2007. The government says the ONLF has been defeated, but its fighters continue to launch sporadic attacks.

    U.S.-based advocacy group Human Rights Watch has accused the government of human rights abuses in its response to the insurgency, claiming it has burnt homes, confiscated livestock and arbitrarily detained civilians. Officials deny rights abuses in the Ogaden region, saying the rebels are the ones perpetrating crimes against civilians.

    The government expelled aid workers from the region in the latter part of 2007, amid growing concerns about the scale of the humanitarian crisis facing its people. Although some have since been allowed to return, the army continues to impose severe restrictions on both media and aid agencies.


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    Members of the Eastern Africa Standby Brigade from Uganda march to board a French tactical aircraft C160 Transall at the French Air Base 188 in Djibouti, December 5, 2009. The EASB ...


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    Last updated:Fri Dec 11 13:37:02 2009