ONM – West Shaggar, June 11, 2025
Reports from local sources indicate that government forces loyal to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed have escalated their campaign of violence in parts of West Shaggar, with fresh civilian casualties and widespread looting reported in Dirre Hincinnii and Jibaat districts.
On June 8, an unidentified farmer was shot and killed by government troops in the village of Muuyyoo Jilaa, allegedly under suspicion of supporting the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA). Witnesses say the victim was a poor labourer uninvolved in politics, forced to work for survival, and targeted without evidence.
Just a day later, on June 9, the same village was reportedly subjected to large-scale looting by government-aligned forces. Locals told ONM that public property was taken without explanation, describing the act as part of a pattern of lawlessness and collective punishment.
“They are using OLA as a pretext to terrorise innocent people,” said one resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “They threaten unarmed villagers with guns, accusing them of affiliations they don’t have.”
The Oromo Liberation Army has long claimed to be fighting for the rights and self-determination of the Oromo people, who have suffered decades of marginalisation. The recent wave of violence in West Shaggar underscores the growing desperation of a regime struggling to maintain control through brute force, critics say.
ONM will continue to follow developments as reports from the ground emerge.
