OFC Central Committee Calls for New Roadmap for Democratic Transition

Getahun Tsegaye
Staff Reporter 

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – The Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) Central Committee yesterday issued a statement titled “A Country at a Crossroads: A Call for Unity, Peace, and a New Democratic Journey.” 

In the statement, the OFC reflected on Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s seven years in power, noting that while this period initially offered hope for a democratic foundation in Ethiopia, it ultimately concluded as “a chronicle of squandered hope.”

The statement further asserted that Oromia and the whole of Ethiopia are currently gripped by escalating political, security, economic, and humanitarian crises, caught in a destructive cycle where one issue exacerbates another.

Following extensive deliberations, the OFC Central Committee released what it called its “final assessment” of the country’s current situation. It identified the fundamental crisis, from which all other crises in the country stem, as political in nature. The OFC stated that the promise of 2018, when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power, has been “betrayed by a project aimed at building an autocratic government.”

The statement highlighted political and security failures, including the “arrest, enforced disappearance, and killing of countless journalists, social activists, and opposition political leaders.” It also alleged the political space to be completely closed and  that the government has made “war the only option” for many opposition forces. 

The OFC Central Committee argued that the country is currently embroiled in “destructive wars,” stating that “Oromia has become the center of incessant warfare, heavy fighting continues in the Amhara region, and the fragile peace in Tigray is eroding.”

In connection with these internal conflicts, the statement expressed concern about the Horn of Africa region. It sharply criticized the government’s “unilateral” Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Somaliland, calling it “not only an exclusion of the Federal Government of Somalia but also a grave diplomatic error that violated established international norms regarding national sovereignty.”

The OFC further contended that the observed conflicts have led to overall economic collapse. It accused the system, under the guise of “economic liberalization,” of sacrificing the country’s economic sovereignty for foreign interests. This, the statement argued, has led to extreme cost of living hikes, pushing the public into hardship. The OFC noted that the government has failed to improve the salaries and benefits of civil servants, including teachers and health professionals, and that millions of citizens are unable to meet even their basic needs.

The statement also alleged a “systematic attack” by the government on the multinational federal system. As evidence, it cited the establishment of “command posts” that undermine the authority of regional governments and centralize control, as well as policy and legal interventions that infringe upon regions’ self-governance and constitutional powers.

The OFC stated that the upcoming 2026 election and any future political landscape offer an opportunity for fundamental change, entirely based on rebuilding the foundations of democratic competition. It proposed a “conditional future direction” and presented fundamental questions to the government for a new roadmap for democratic transition.

Among its demands, the OFC Central Committee called for an “immediate” cessation of all wars and the initiation of an inclusive peace process. Specifically, it demanded that conflicts in Oromia and Amhara cease urgently, verifiably, and under international observation. It also urged the government to engage in an inclusive political dialogue with all armed and political groups.

Furthermore, the statement demanded the “unconditional” release of all political prisoners, including OFC members, leaders, journalists, and activists. It also called for the immediate reopening of all closed OFC offices, the repeal of repressive laws against the media and civil society, and a legally guaranteed right to organize, assemble, and campaign freely without intimidation.

To restore public trust and ensure a credible and reliable electoral process, the OFC Central Committee also demanded that the Ethiopian National Electoral Board (NEBE) be reconstituted through transparent agreement among all parties.

In its statement, the OFC Central Committee invited all Oromo political and civic forces to build a united front and become partners in the struggle. It urged the government to abandon its firm stance of resolving all national problems solely through force and instead choose political maturity and dialogue. Additionally, it called upon all Ethiopian democratic forces to forge a “democratic covenant.”

The OFC Central Committee appealed to the international community (African Union, United Nations, European Union, United States, and others), urging them to move beyond expressing concern and take concrete action. It called on them to “exert tangible pressure on the government to cease conflicts, respect human rights and the rule of law, and facilitate an inclusive democratic process.”

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