Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) has chosen peace to address people's demands, says Central Zone Commander Jal Segni Negasa.
In a statement regarding the peace agreement, Jal Segni Negasa, has dismissed the rumors circulating on social media about the agreement as baseless. He explained that they chose the path of peace to address the people's demands.
The Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) leadership has recently signed a peace agreement and has stated that they chose the path of peace to address the people's demands, emphasizing that this was the only viable option.
He asserted that those spreading rumors saying that the government hired them to sign the peace deal, are indifferent to the suffering of the people. They do not understand the situation in the Oromia region and are instead inciting conflict from afar.
Jal Segni clarified that they signed the agreement to address the people's demands and not, as the rumors suggest, to deceive the government and undermine others. He emphasized that the OLA members currently entering camps are proof of their commitment to peace. He also questioned those spreading rumors are also asking about how they themselves can return to peace.
He stated that the deteriorating situation over the past three years forced them to choose this option, highlighting the suffering of rural populations due to the ongoing conflict in the Oromia region. Recognizing that the situation in the region cannot be resolved through armed conflict, they have chosen this alternative path.
Jal Segni argued that the people can understand the injustices being committed against them and explained that the people are paying the price for issues that do not concern them.
He expressed his belief that the agreement will bring relief to the people and noted that the fighters who have accepted the agreement are entering camps and will undergo rehabilitation training before being deployed to their desired locations.
He also pointed out that jointly rebuilding destroyed infrastructures and reconciling areas of conflict are part of the agreement. He stated that they will do their part to implement the agreement and that three committees have been formed to enforce it.
During their recent visit to Addis Ababa and other areas, Jal Segni observed ongoing development projects and expressed satisfaction with the progress while emphasizing the need for further improvement.
Stressing that people benefit more from peace than from war, he argued that resolving political differences through dialogue is a civilized approach.