Report compiled by Jilcha Hamid and Arif Ali
Since its creation in 2007 the Liyu Police militia has been known to commit atrocities against civilians in the Ogaden region and has launched attacks on neighbouring Somali tribes on numerous occasions. However in the last few months, the militia has began carrying out cross-boarder raids into Oromia region. Its to be remembered that this heavily armed militia overrun the town of Moyale in Southern Oromia resulting in the death of cozens of people and forcing terns of of thousands to flee to Kenya, as reported by Al Jazeera. All indications are that the attacks have been carried out on the orders of the Federal government in Addis Ababa. As reported at the time, during the attack on Moyale, the 4th army division stationed just two miles outside the town center watched silently as the militia overrun the police station and ransacked the town. Then the militia was allowed safe passage to retreat after looting and burning the town while administrators of the Borana province who protested against the army complacency were thrown to jail where they still remain.
Similarly, prior to the recent attacks, the local militia in Mayu Mulluqe in charge of security had been disarmed while the Liyu Police have continued to receive supply of arms and food from the federal government, according to officials of the East Hararghe province who do not wish their name to be disclosed. residents of After the militia’s incursions into Oromia region began last month, trucks transporting weapons to the areas controlled by the militia have been reported by witnesses. Locals in Burqa Tirtira have blockaded roads preventing weapons from reaching the militia currently occupying Qumbi. Despite this, weapons have been flown in and the campaign has continued. It is believed that Burqa Tirtira town may be the next target of the onslaught. This militia is so well trained and heavily armed that, they have taken over most of the fight against the Ogaden insurgents enabling the federal government to move most of its contingents to the northern front where confrontation with Eritrea is on the rise. The Guardian recently reported that the British aid money is been used to arm and train the Liyu police.
According to a source in the Somali region, president of the region and commander of the Liyu police told the Somali elders that the cross-boarder raids and invasions by the Liyu police is meant to reclaim territories lost to Oromia during the 2004 boarder referendum. It is to be recalled that referendum was organized to settle dispute between the two regions over 420 kebeles in 12 districts. The referendum resulted in residents living in the 80% of the disputed areas voting to join Oromia. However, the demarcation was has been dragging for the last nine years. The final phase of the demarcation was supposed to take place this year, Hence, the recent invasions are meant to to establish fact on the ground to influence the final outcome.
However, the territorial dispute seems to be more of a cover story than a real motive for both the regional and federal government in catalyzing this conflict. There are two motives at play, tackling the activities of the Oganden insurgents and dispersing the growing resistance of the Muslim population. The government suspects that Oromo communities in the region has been complacent in facilitating for the Ogaden insurgents to pass through and hide within the Oromo territories whenever they are pressured in their home region. The government securities believe that local elders’ coziness towards the Oganden rebels might be orchestrated by the Oromo Liberation that historically enjoys strong support in the area. Hence the regime is reviving the territorial dispute to frustrate the operational alliance between the two insurgents.
Moreover, East Hararge zone has as of late been the target of the governments Ahbash indoctrination campaign and was singled out in a leaked government document leaked government document as a target zone for government “re-education” due to the so called spread of “extremism”. The report complained that administrators in charge of many of the districts in the province have been openly hostile towards and refuse to implement the indoctrination campaigns. Therefore these attacks by the Liyu Police militia can be interpreted as an effort by the Ethiopian government to instill fear in the population and force them into submission in exchange for protection against the cross-boarder raids. If the government does at some point decide to step in and call off its dogs, they will likely try to appear as the peacemaker and the populations only source of security, while sowing hatred and distrust between Oromos and their neighbors.
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