ONM-ABO March 31, 2026.
A grave human rights crisis is unfolding in the city of Asosa and surrounding areas in the Benishangul Gumuz region, where Oromo youth are being systematically hunted, arrested and forcibly transferred to military training camps by agents linked to the ruling party, multiple sources have told ONM.
Since March 25, 2026, young Oromo men and women have been seized from their homes, workplaces and public spaces, loaded into vehicles and taken to the camps against their will. The aggressive campaign has instilled pervasive fear across the community, with many young people now avoiding the city centre for fear of forced conscription.
Within Asosa, young Oromo residents are being arbitrarily labelled as supporters of the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), a charge that has led to widespread harassment and intimidation by local authorities, according to residents.
Families of the forcibly detained are said to be living in anguish and desperate uncertainty, with no information on the fate or whereabouts of their loved ones.
The crackdown comes against a backdrop of deepening regional instability. An influx of people fleeing recent clashes near Kurmuk, involving Sudanese forces and rebels allegedly backed by the ruling party, has strained resources in Asosa, sources added.
Amid these multifaceted pressures, analysts and local observers have alleged a cynical strategy by the ruling party. Facing mounting internal and external challenges, the administration is believed to be forcibly recruiting Oromo youth in a desperate attempt to shore up its military strength.
More alarmingly, there are significant concerns that these conscripts are being deliberately deployed to dangerous frontlines, in what some interpret as a deliberate tactic to suppress dissent and reduce a perceived opposition demographic.
