By Oromia News Agency

FINFINNE, OROMIA– The Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) has issued an urgent and deeply alarming statement condemning the escalating wave of mass killings, civilian displacement, and identity-based violence that has gripped the Oromia region of Ethiopia. The party, which has long been a voice for federalism and the rights of the Oromo people, expressed profound grief and anger over what it describes as a systematic campaign of violence that is spreading to new areas with unprecedented ferocity.

In a detailed press release, the OFC highlighted that the conflict, once confined to certain areas, has now expanded into central and eastern parts of the region. Specifically, the party points to the districts of Arsi, East Shewa, and West Hararghe as the latest theaters of brutal violence. The statement describes a “coordinated attack” in the Asako district of East Arsi, where civilians were reportedly targeted regardless of their ethnicity or religion, with both Amhara and Oromo, Christians and Muslims, falling victim to the bloodshed.

A Crisis of Displacement and Suffering

The humanitarian situation detailed by the OFC paints a picture of a population in despair. The party reports that in the Seru district, a systematic burning campaign has destroyed entire villages, displacing an estimated 17,000 households. Tens of thousands of vulnerable citizens have been forced to flee to remote and inhospitable areas, including dense forests and deserts. The press release described harrowing accounts of mothers giving birth alone in the wilderness, and children dying from cold, hunger, and lack of basic medical care .

The OFC’s statement squarely blames the violence on a complex and chaotic mix of actors. “The peaceful people of Oromia are currently being subjected to horrific massacres in the war between the government and armed groups,” the statement reads. It further expresses deep concern over the proliferation of splinter groups, opportunistic bandits, and counterfeit armed factions operating under various names.

The Weaponization of Identity

A key element of the OFC’s alarm is the deliberate strategy of using identity as a weapon of war. The party vehemently condemns what it calls the “cynical and dangerous” tactic of orchestrating violence to pit communities against one another—killing Christians to blame Muslims, and vice versa, or igniting conflict between Amhara and Oromo civilians. The press release warns that this strategy is a calculated attempt to dismantle the social fabric of the region for narrow political gain. “In this atmosphere of chaos, fueled by finger-pointing and mutual suspicion, truth is obscured and accountability has vanished entirely,” the statement declared .

A Call for an End to the Military-Only Approach

After eight years of military campaigns, the OFC argues that the government’s reliance on a purely military solution has proven to be a catastrophic failure, only multiplying the number and types of armed groups and leading to more civilian casualties. The party asserts that the primary, constitutional, and moral duty to protect its citizens lies with the government. “A government that has failed to protect its most vulnerable citizens has failed in its most fundamental duty,” the statement proclaims.

Urgent Demands from the OFC

To stop the bloodshed and prevent further catastrophe, the OFC has issued four urgent demands :

1. An Immediate Cessation of Attacks on Civilians: The party calls on all parties to the conflict—including the Ethiopian National Defense Force, regional forces, all government-affiliated militias, and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA)—to strictly adhere to international humanitarian law and immediately cease all attacks on non-combatants.
2. Unrestricted Humanitarian Access: The OFC demands that federal and regional governments, as well as armed opposition groups, immediately open pathways for unrestricted humanitarian aid to reach the affected populations. It stresses the need for emergency food, shelter, and medical supplies for the displaced in severely affected districts like Seru, Asako, Merti, and Heben Arsi.
3. An Independent International Investigation: Given the complexity and the conflicting narratives surrounding the violence, the OFC is calling for an urgent, independent, and transparent international investigation. The party argues that domestic institutions alone cannot ensure impartiality and accountability. It proposes an investigation involving the UN Human Rights Council and independent domestic human rights bodies to identify the true perpetrators of these horrific acts .
4. An Inclusive Political Solution: The OFC reiterates its firm stance that the root cause of the conflict is political and cannot be resolved through force of arms. The party calls for the immediate commencement of urgent, inclusive, and unconditional political dialogue and negotiation to achieve a lasting, negotiated solution.

The Oromo Federalist Congress concluded its statement with a stark warning: “The people of Oromia must not continue to be used as pawns in a political gamble. The bloodshed must end, the rule of law must be respected, and genuine political dialogue must begin immediately.”

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