Oromo Liberation Fronts form umbrella organization, elect Waqo Gutu chairperson

OIN, Septemer 28, 2000

According to a communiqué released on September 20, 2000 the representatives of:

1. Islamic Front for the Liberation of Oromia  (IFLO)

2. Oromiyaa Liberation Council  (OLC)

3. Oromo Liberation Front  (OLF)

4. Oromo People's Liberation Front  (OPLF)

5. Oromo People's Liberation Organization I  (OPLO I)

6. United Oromo People Liberation Front  (UOPLF

have formed an umbrella organization to be known as United Liberation Forces of Oromia (ULFO)." 

The communiqué states that representatives of the six organizations held a meeting from September 16-20 and passed a "resolution of the founding Congress of ULFO" and elected the following officials:

Waqo Gutu, chairperson
Jarra Abba Gada, deputy chairperson
Dawd Ibsa, deputy chairperson
Galasa Dilbo, secretary
Jamal Haji Ibrahim, first deputy secretary
Abba Giddi Abba Magaal, second deputy secretary

The founding congress of ULFO cites disunity among liberation forces as "a major factor why Oromia has remained under oppression" and "the people of Oromia have not yet achieved freedom and justice".  One of the most important resolutions of the congress is the groups' commitment "to work together towards a gradual creation of one National Liberation Army and a single political leadership".  The group concludes by stating that there is no peace, democracy and justice in Ethiopia, and calls upon all democratic forces to stand with and support ULFO to overthrow the fascist regime.