Ajebe Ligaba Wolde of TPLF/EPRDF Embassy in Nairobi blames OLF for Cross border conflict

Kenya: Oromo Rebels to Blame for Attacks, Says Ethiopia Govt

April 19, 2006 Posted to the web April 18, 2006
Cyrus KinyunguNairobi
The Ethiopian government has accused the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) of being behind the ongoing clashes along the Kenya Ethiopia border in Marsabit.
"The OLF factor in the clashes should not be belittled. It is always there to incite problems and annoy people particularly at the border," said Mr Ajebe Ligaba Wolde, Minister Counsellor at the Ethiopia Embassy in Nairobi.
Wolde, who is the acting ambassador, lamented that the OLF don Ethiopia government soldiers' uniforms in order to create the impression that the government was involved in such raids.
"They put on Ethiopian soldier's uniforms to defame Ethiopia," he said.
Kenya and Ethiopia, Wolde said, were on good terms adding that the Kenya Government was also aware the Ethiopian Government is not involved in the attacks.
However, Wolde said there was a need for the two countries to hold joint operations to clear the OLF problem once and for all.
"OLF is not only a threat to peace in Ethiopia but also to Kenya and the whole region. They want to destabilise the region," said Wolde in an interview with The Standard at his office.
The last joint operation between the two countries, he noted, was about two years ago and there was need for another.
He said the Ethiopian government is keen to co-operate with the Kenyans to trace the people who have gone missing following the raids.
Tension is high in the Kenya-Ethiopia border district of Marsabit after suspected members of the OLF raided the village killing residents and stealing livestock.
On Sunday night, the militiamen killed two herders and abducted nine others from Dukana village, which is 300km East of Marsabit.
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In the latest attack, militiamen struck at Sura killed the two herders and stole over 2,000 head of cattle. They abducted nine villagers, three of them women.
A resident reported seeing people wearing Ethiopia military uniforms arrive in five dark lorries and surround them. They ordered them to remain indoors until morning as they drove off with their animals.
Over 2,000 residents have fled Dukana village.