The Oromo Liberation Front-Oromo Liberation Army (OLF-OLA) has dismissed claims that its fighters are involved in criminal activities in Marsabit and Isiolo counties, asserting that it fully respects Kenya’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Kenyan government launched “Operation Ondoa Jangili” (Operation to Remove Criminals) on Sunday, January 3, 2025, with the aim of flushing out what it described as Oromo militia members allegedly engaging in drug trafficking, human trafficking, and kidnappings for ransom.
However, OLF-OLA insists it is not involved in any illegal operations on Kenyan soil.
OLF-OLA Responds to Allegations
In an official press statement, OLF-OLA clarified that over 95% of its forces operate deep within the southern Oromia region of Ethiopia, while less than 5% are positioned near the Kenyan border, primarily to ensure the safety of the Borana community and other Kenyan groups.
The organization emphasized its opposition to criminal activities and expressed a willingness to cooperate with Kenyan authorities in eliminating criminal elements along the shared border.
The group further accused elements within Ethiopia’s military and intelligence services of orchestrating illegal activities, including drug and human trafficking, as well as illicit trade in precious metals.
OLF-OLA alleged that these Ethiopian operatives exploit legal banking channels to finance their operations and warned Kenyan authorities against being misled by Ethiopian government narratives.
No Conflict with Kenya, Says OLA Leadership
Speaking to BBC, Jireenya Guddataa, an advisor to the OLF-OLA Supreme Commander, reaffirmed that the group has no intention of fighting the Kenyan army.
“The fight we have is with the Ethiopian government. It is the Ethiopian authorities who falsely attribute crimes to the OLF,” said Guddataa.
He acknowledged that Kenya has the right to conduct military operations within its borders and clarified that OLF-OLA will not resist Kenyan security forces.
However, he warned that if Ethiopian forces were to engage in cross-border hostilities, OLA would defend itself.
“The Kenyan government has accused the OLF of using the Borana Oromo people in Kenya and Ethiopia as a tool to commit crimes, but this is incorrect,” Guddataa added.
“We have no interest in establishing a presence in Kenya, and we do not maintain any permanent bases in the area.”
While acknowledging that border areas are fluid, with communities moving freely between Ethiopia and Kenya, he emphasized that OLF-OLA operates strictly in line with its principles and does not condone illegal activities.
“Under our laws, the crimes listed by the Kenyan government are unacceptable and punishable. If any member of our army were found guilty of such offenses, they would face severe consequences,” he stated.
Historical Context and OLA’s Position
The Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) is the armed wing of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), which was formed in 1974 to resist what it describes as the Ethiopian government’s oppression of the Oromo people.
Although the OLF signed a ceasefire agreement with the Ethiopian government in August 2018, the OLA rejected the deal, citing unfulfilled commitments.
The latest accusations and military operations raise concerns about border security and ethnic tensions in the region.
OLF-OLA maintains that while it remains engaged in its struggle against the Ethiopian government, it has no hostile intentions toward Kenya and seeks only to protect the rights of Oromo communities on both sides of the border.
As tensions rise, it remains to be seen how both the Kenyan and Ethiopian governments will navigate the security challenges posed by insurgencies and transnational criminal activities in the region.
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