Joint Declaration between the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Ogaden National Liberation Front (The Asmara Declaration)

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Country/entity: Ethiopia
Ogaden
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Joint Declaration between the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Ogaden National Liberation Front (The Asmara Declaration)
Date: 21 Oct 2018
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
Ethiopia's Territorial Conflicts (1990 - )
Agreements relate to three distinct (but related) conflict contexts:

Ethiopia-Eritrea. The first relates to the relationship between Ethiopia and Eritrea in the post-1990 period. In 1991, the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF) defeated the communist military junta (‘Derg’) in Ethiopia and proclaimed independence for Eritrea. At the same time, Derg itself was overthrown by the Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Forces (EPRDF), which established a transitional government in Ethiopia. Eritrea was granted an independence referendum, which resulted in a 99.8 per cent pro-independence vote. However, border tensions and heavy disputes, in particular on minority rights and economic issues, between EPLF and EPRDF led to new fighting between the two countries in 1998. A mediation by the US administration led to a difficult truce and in 2000 a peace agreement was signed. The ruling of the Border Commission established by the agreement was rejected by Ethiopia. The border continued to be heavily occupied by troops on both sides and border skirmishes continued into 2016. In June 2018, after a series of summits, the state of war was declared over in a Joint Declaration of Peace and Friendship, as Ethiopia finally agreed to honour the ruling of the Border Commission. This followed by a series of steps to improve political, economic and diplomatic ties. Transport and telephone links have been re-established, and borders reopened. In July 2018, the countries have signed the ‘Agreement on Peace, Friendship and Comprehensive Cooperation’ reiterating their commitment to achieving long-lasting peace in the region.

Ethiopia-Ogaden. The third relates to the remaining conflict in the Ogaden region. Here the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) in 1994 waged war against the Ethiopian government, demanding secession from the Ethiopian state and integration into Greater Somalia. Despite signing several agreements, low-intensity guerrilla warfare is still ongoing, although ONLF’s strength significantly declined after 2009. Pursuant to an agreement with the federal government, they have returned from Eritrea to pursue peaceful political struggle and planning to register as a party and participate in 2020 elections.

Ethiopia-internal. The second relates to the attempts to reach settlement between contending groups post the Derg’s overthrow with a negotiated political charter and ‘peace agreement’ constitution.
Stage: Ceasefire/related
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Ogaden peace process
Parties: Delegates from the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) and the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) met on 21 October, 2018 in Asmara, Eritrea.

The Ethiopian Government delegation was led by H.E. Workneh Gebeyehu and the ONLF delegation was led by the Admiral Mohamed Omar Osman.

The government delegation included the Ethiopia Minister of Finance, H.E. Ahmed Shide and the President of Somali Regional State, H.E. Mustafe Muhumed Omer. The ONLF delegation included Secretary General, Hon Abdirahman Mahdi, Foreign Secretary, Hon Ahmed Yassin Abdi and Finance Secretary, Hon Ibado Herse Hassan.
Third parties: -
Description: A short agreement terminating the conflict and providing for a process to follow to address the conflict's root causes.

Agreement document: EH_211018_Joint_Declaration_Between_the_Federal_Democratic_Republic_of_Ethiopia_and_the_Ogaden_National_Liberation_Front.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: Governance→Constitution→Constitution affirmation/renewal
Page 1,
Affirming to uphold all the political rights enshrined in the Ethiopian Constitution and recognizing the need to address the root causes of the conflict, both parties hereby agree:

• to end hostilities towards each other;
• that ONLF shall pursue its political objectives through peaceful means, with the assurances that the FDRE will respect and uphold the provisions of its Constitution;
...

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: Page 1,
Affirming to uphold all the political rights enshrined in the Ethiopian Constitution and recognizing the need to address the root causes of the conflict, both parties hereby agree:

• to end hostilities towards each other;
• that ONLF shall pursue its political objectives through peaceful means, with the assurances that the FDRE will respect and uphold the provisions of its Constitution;
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→Ceasefire provision
Page 1,
Affirming to uphold all the political rights enshrined in the Ethiopian Constitution and recognizing the need to address the root causes of the conflict, both parties hereby agree:

• to end hostilities towards each other;
• that ONLF shall pursue its political objectives through peaceful means, with the assurances that the FDRE will respect and uphold the provisions of its Constitution;
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: No specific mention.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: Obtained originally from parties. Currently available online at Dehai News:
http://www.dehai.org/dehai/dehai-news/286157

JOINT DECLARATION

BETWEEN THE FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA

AND

THE OGADEN NATIONAL LIBERATION FRONT

Delegates from the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) and the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) met on 21 October, 2018 in Asmara, Eritrea.

The Ethiopian Government delegation was led by H.E. Workneh Gebeyehu and the ONLF delegation was led by the Admiral Mohamed Omar Osman.

The government delegation included the Ethiopia Minister of Finance, H.E. Ahmed Shide and the President of Somali Regional State, H.E. Mustafe Muhumed Omer.

The ONLF delegation included Secretary General, Hon Abdirahman Mahdi, Foreign Secretary, Hon Ahmed Yassin Abdi and Finance Secretary, Hon Ibado Herse Hassan.

Affirming to uphold all the political rights enshrined in the Ethiopian Constitution and recognizing the need to address the root causes of the conflict, both parties hereby agree:

to end hostilities towards each other;

that ONLF shall pursue its political objectives through peaceful means, with the assurances that the FDRE will respect and uphold the provisions of its Constitution;

to establish a join committee to further discuss substantive issues pertaining to the root causes of the conflict in the region through continuous engagement inside the country.

This declaration was done in Asmara on the 21 October 2018.