ONM-ABO, July 19, 2024
Two Ethiopian soldiers defected from the regime and joined the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), according to ONM-ABO reports. The Ethiopian regime has been forcibly recruiting Oromo youth into military training camps. However, many of these forcibly recruited individuals, after completing their training, have defected to the OLA, taking with them the uniforms and weapons provided by the Ethiopian authorities. These defectors have sent strong messages to those still within the regime, condemning the terrorization of innocent Oromo people. They were warmly welcomed by the OLA.
Similar reports from the Gidda Ayana District in East Wallaga indicate that many militias, trained by the government for several months, have also quit the Ethiopian military to join the OLA in opposition to the regime. Since June 28, 2024, the OLA has launched an operation across Oromia, named “Irbu Shiniga,” achieving significant victories over the regime’s forces. Many Ethiopian soldiers have surrendered to the OLA during these operations.
