ONLF condemns Ethiopia’s “unilateral” launch of Ogaden Gas project as “colonial exploitation”

The Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) has criticized what it calls the “unilateral launch of the Ogaden Gas Project” by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, accusing the federal government of bypassing consultation with the Somali people in the region.

In a statement, the group denounced the move as “a new chapter of colonial exploitation,” rejecting the project’s legitimacy and calling for its immediate suspension until a “genuine and transparent process involving the Somali people” is conducted. The ONLF also condemned what it described as “forced displacement and environmental destruction caused by Ethiopian military operations under the guise of securing the project area.”

The condemnation comes after Prime Minister Abiy unveiled a $10 billion economic initiatives in Ethiopia’s Somali regional state. The package includes the launch of the first phase of the Ogaden liquefied natural Gas (LNG) project in Calub, expected to produce 111 million litres of gas and generate 1,000 megawatts of electricity. Plans for a second phase aim to expand capacity to 1.3 billion litres annually.

Other major projects announced include a $2.5 billion fertilizer plant in partnership with Nigeria’s Dangote Group, projected to produce three million tonnes annually, and a $2.5 billion oil refinery to be built by a Chinese firm.

The ONLF, a political movement primarily composed of ethnic Somalis, was founded in 1984 amid long-standing grievances over political marginalization, and economic neglect, in the Ogaden region. Initially an armed movement fighting for self-determination and autonomy, the ONLF gained international attention following high-profile attacks, including the 2007 Abole incident, which left 74 Ethiopian soldiers and contractors dead.

After decades of insurgency, the ONLF signed a peace agreement in 2018 with Abiy Ahmed’s government, pledging to pursue its political objectives through peaceful means. However, internal divisions have since weakened the organization. Rival factions have emerged, one aligned with Somali regional state President Mustafa Cagjar and supportive of cooperation with Addis Ababa, and another, led by Abdirahman Sheikh Mahdi, accusing the federal government of failing to honor promises on autonomy and development.

In a recent internal election held in Jigjiga, Qalbi-Dhagax was chosen as ONLF chairman, backed by the pro-government faction.

The latest statement of condemnation also follows a series of similar declarations issued in recent months by certain factions within the ONLF, accusing both the Somali Regional State leadership and the Ethiopian federal authorities, including the ruling party, of fueling internal divisions within the movement. These widening rifts, driven by disputes over political direction, engagement with Addis Ababa, and leadership control have left the ONLF’s trajectory increasingly uncertain, as the organization struggles to define its identity and relevance within Ethiopia’s evolving Somali regional politics.