Ethiopia dismisses rebels’ alliance as nothing new

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia

Ethiopia has dismissed a declaration of an alliance by two rebel groups as nothing new.

After the government on Tuesday ended a June 29 unilateral cease-fire, the Shene-Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) – a group that operates in the bushes of Southwestern Ethiopia – declared an alliance with the Oromo Liberation Army and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front TPLF.

“This alliance is not new nor surprising to the government,” Billene Seyoum, prime ministry spokesperson, said late Thursday.

“While the timing of the public declaration needs examining, the government has been indicating for well over two years now that the TPLF have been using Shene as errand runners for their destructive mission.”

She pointed out that under the Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism Crimes, both organizations were designated terrorist groups three months ago.

The government said it was ending its unilateral cease-fire as the rebel forces continued to advance into neighboring territories of Amhara and Afar.

In Afar, the rebel fighters reportedly massacred 240 civilians – including more than 100 children – taking shelter in a camp after they got displaced by the armed conflict, a report that sent shockwaves across the Horn of Africa nation of 110 million people.