The deputy commander of Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), Abdikarin Sheikh Muse says he still alive and continuing with the fighting to free Ethiopian-controlled Somali region.
Speaking to Voice of America’s Somali service, Muse strongly denied reports from Ethiopian government that he was killed alongside his fighters by special police force in in Ogaden's town of Dhagahbuur.
“Am currently inside Ethiopia where we normally operate, Ethiopia is propagating this to demoralize our people..... wants to boost the morale of their devastated troops, which we fought them recently and inflicted heavy casualties,� he told VOA.
He vowed to continue with the war against Addis Ababa government, downplaying any negotiations with the regime, which it described as non-committed in peace.
“We will only cease fire when we liberate Ogadenia from Ethiopian occupation, we are however ready to end the suffering of our people through talks but things are not working on the other side,� he stated.
An Ethiopian government official was quoted as saying that Special trained police force carried out the operation targeted on ONLF forces and killed the commander alongside some 17 fighters.
“At the time of the attack, the rebel was planning to attack some areas in Somali region, but our forces acted swiftly and inflicted great harm to the group,� added the official.
Both sides usually claim victory over each other whenever involved in military confrontation in the remote areas.
The ONLF group, which was founded in 1984, is fighting to make the oil-rich Somali region of Ogaden in eastern Ethiopia an independent state and has warned foreign oil explorers against prospecting on its land.