By Daandii Ragabaa

FINFINNEE — In a strongly worded statement released on November 6, 2026, the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) has condemned what it describes as “land expansion wars” being waged against the Oromo people across multiple regions of Oromia, calling for an immediate end to the violence and accountability for those responsible.

A Pattern of Violence and Displacement

The statement, issued under the title “Land Expansion Wars on Oromia’s Borders Are Unacceptable in Any Form,” documents a series of attacks that it says have caused immense suffering among the Oromo people. According to the OLF, wars and conflicts over land have been waged on Oromia’s borders at various times, with devastating consequences. Many people have lost their lives, and hundreds of thousands have been displaced from their homes and property, scattered across the region.

The OLF describes the situation as particularly tragic: the Oromo people, who have been victims of land expansion and resource plundering, have been forced to abandon their homes, watching their houses burn day and night, being killed and displaced, and—lacking any means of protection—becoming refugees both within Ethiopia and in neighboring countries.

The Current Crisis: An Expanding Conflict

The statement emphasizes that the current situation is not merely a continuation of past conflicts. The attacks on Oromo land have taken on a new and more dangerous character. At present, what the OLF describes as “large-scale military operations” are being conducted in a manner that crosses Oromia’s borders and seizes Oromo land in an unprecedented way.

Specifically, the statement highlights that in Borena Zone, including the town of Moyale and many villages in southern Oromia, a war of land expansion has been waged by the special forces of the Somali regional government since the end of October 2026. This war, the OLF states, is being fought against an unarmed civilian population and continues to this day.

The OLF emphasizes that this war is fundamentally different from previous communal conflicts: it is a well-organized military operation supported by trained soldiers and modern weapons. The statement reports that many Oromo people have lost their lives and been injured in this conflict, and that over 60,000 civilians have been displaced and fled to neighboring Kenya.

A Broader Geographic Scope

The statement identifies a wide range of areas where land expansion attacks are being carried out, including:

• Southeastern Oromia — the lowlands of East Bale and West Bale zones
• Eastern Oromia
• Central Oromia — North Shoa and East Shoa zones
• North Oromia — Walloo
• Northwestern Oromia — Metekkel
• Western Oromia — East Wollega and Horro Guduru Wollega zones

In these areas, the OLF claims, forces supported by “goolessitoota” (a term referring to those who have historically exploited and subjugated the Oromo) are conducting attacks. The statement describes the violence as “heavy and shocking” and says it is difficult to express in words the scale of the suffering being inflicted on the Oromo people.

The “Fannoo” Forces and Mass Killings

The statement specifically names a force called “Fannoo”—described as an armed group mobilized under this name by “goolessitoota” forces—which has been waging war against the Oromo people for years. According to the OLF, these forces continue their attacks with renewed intensity, spilling innocent blood, plundering resources, and burning homes.

The statement provides specific examples of recent atrocities:

• November 4, 2026 — In Kiramuu district, East Wollega Zone, armed forces attacked villages including Guddina Jireenyaa and Caruu (in Abee Dongoroo district). Women, the elderly, and children were injured in the attacks. Homes and property were set on fire, and images of the destruction are circulating.
• In Caruu village, a family of nine people—including a father and mother—were killed by these forces.

Mass Killings in Benishangul-Gumuz

The statement also reports on violence in Benishangul-Gumuz Region, Metekkel Zone, where Oromo civilians have faced repeated attacks, pressure, and harassment.

On November 5, 2026, in a place called Daalattii in Benishangul-Gumuz, a mass killing was carried out under the name “Shanee nutti harkistu” (a derogatory term). According to the OLF, more than 43 Oromo civilians, including women and children, were rounded up from their homes and killed by police of the Benishangul-Gumuz regional administration.

The statement lists some of the victims by name:

1. Ahimad Mohaammad
2. Amiinaa Hasan
3. Omar Abdallaa
4. Wubet Dachaasaa
5. Baqqalee Taaddasee
6. Alamuu Gammachuu
7. Tasfaayee Asaffaa
8. Tasfaayee Margaa
9. Mulgeetaa Kabbadee

The OLF describes this as a “grave crime against humanity” and strongly condemns the killing of unarmed civilians. It calls on human rights defenders to investigate the mass killing.

A Call for Accountability

The statement holds the government responsible for failing to protect civilians. It notes that the government has the duty to control its administrative structures, protect civilians, and make those responsible for such violence accountable to the public. The fact that this is not happening—and that such violence is recurring—is a source of grave concern.

The OLF reiterates its strong condemnation of the wars and killings being carried out against the Oromo people by various forces seeking to cross Oromia’s borders, expand land, and impose their own political interests. It calls for an immediate end to the ongoing war that is devastating the Oromo people.

A Call to Action

The statement concludes with a call to the Oromo people, human rights defenders, peace-loving peoples, and Oromo intellectuals to work toward ending the violence and ensuring that Oromos can live in peace within their borders and in neighboring regions. It specifically calls for ensuring the safety of Oromo people in Somali Region and Somalia.

The OLF calls on all Oromo people to stand against the land expansion and attacks being carried out against the Oromo people in border areas, and to support their communities to the best of their ability—to stand with them and be their voice.

“Victory to the Oromo People!”

Source: Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) Statement, November 6, 2026, Finfinnee.

Note: This article is based on a statement issued by the Oromo Liberation Front.