The Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), also known as WBO in Oromo, has claimed to have killed more than 250 Ethiopian National Defence Forces (ENDF) soldiers in Adda Berga town, located in the West Shewa Zone, approximately 60 kilometres from the capital, Addis Ababa. The OLA stated that it also destroyed a regiment and seized a large weapon, a DShK machine gun.
In a statement released on Saturday, the OLA declared that the clashes marked the fifth day of its campaign against what it termed the “fascist army of the Prosperity Party.” The campaign began on Tuesday, 24 December, 2024.
The statement asserted that “hundreds of regime soldiers have been neutralised,” with many surrendering to OLA forces. It also claimed the capture of a “substantial cache of weapons, including DShK machine guns.” The OLA indicated that a comprehensive account of the operation would be released as part of “Operation Cichoomina Kaayyoo Update No 4”.
According to the OLA, the attack by the group, referred to as “heroic Abdii Sabaa,” resulted in the deaths of more than 250 soldiers loyal to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, with 62 wounded and 50 captured. The fighting was focused on Prosperity Party camps in Nagoobee and Dheebisaa Hangasuu.
Who are the Oromo Liberation Army?
The Oromo Liberation Army is described as an “outlawed” splinter group that broke away from the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF). The OLF was a formerly banned opposition party that was formed half a century ago and returned from exile in 2018. Over time, the Oromo Liberation Front has splintered into at least eight different groups. These include the Oromo Liberation Army, the Oromo Liberation Front, a clandestine group known as Abba Torbe, and the Oromo Democratic Front, which has publicly denounced the use of violence.
The grievances cited by the Oromo Liberation Army are rooted in the alleged marginalisation and neglect of people in Oromiya, the region surrounding Addis Ababa.
On Thursday, OLA claimed to carry out an operation reportedly resulted in the deaths of over 50 Prosperity Party [ENDF] soldiers, with 30 others seriously injured. Additionally, the OLA announced the capture of ten government soldiers, who are currently in their custody.
The Oromo Liberation Army also reported seizing a substantial cache of weaponry. This includes 35 AKM assault rifles, two PKM machine guns, one sniper rifle, over 2,000 rounds of Kalashnikov ammunition, 10 grenades, 1,278 rounds of PKM ammunition, and 54 rifle magazines. The WBO claimed the haul as a critical asset for its continued resistance against the Ethiopian government.
They also claimed that to have successfully targeted five vehicles on a mission against OLA forces in Liban District, transporting police commanders and Prosperity Party zonal and woreda officials. In a separate development, they said that the Oromo Liberation Army Southern Command took control of a regime prison in Guji, successfully freeing 20 political prisoners.
