More than 200 armed fighters have surrendered to Ethiopian Government forces in the Western Oromia region, the military announced on Sunday, 21 December, signalling a potential shift in a protracted conflict.
According to the Army, the fighters had been operating in the East Wollega Zone and laid down their arms following negotiations involving local administrators and security officials. The surrender, the military said, was the result of sustained security operations complemented by dialogue.
Western Oromia has for years been a theatre of violence between government forces and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), an armed group that broke away from the Oromo Liberation Front after the 2018 peace agreement. The OLA says its insurgency is driven by claims of marginalisation and neglect of the Oromo people, Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group.
While authorities have previously announced similar surrenders or defections, violence has persisted in parts of the region. Independent verification of the scale and significance of Sunday’s development remains challenging due to access restrictions and communication blackouts in conflict-affected areas. There was no immediate comment from the OLA on the government’s announcement.