Beyond the Terror Frame: Understanding the OLA In early February, Kenyan police launched 'Operation Ondoa Jangili' against the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) insurgents in Marsabit and Isiolo counties in northern Kenya, in conjunction with Ethiopian forces. Having signed a security cooperation agreement in August 2024 to combat cross-border threats, both Nairobi and Addis have sought to tie the OLA insurgency to Al-Shabaab, and consequently paint the Oromo nationalist forces as 'terrorists.' But to frame Oromo nationalism and struggle simply through the lens of counter-terrorism obscures a much more complex reality, and does an injustice to the Oromo people.
Reports of a government offensive in the Hiiraan region recall the heady days of the 2022 ma'awiisley offensive against Al-Shabaab that left the jihadists bloodied and on the back foot. At that time, community defence forces from the Hawaadle rose up against Al-Shabaab in protest against the group's pitiless 'taxtortion' during a time of brutal drought, and succeeded in dislodging the extremists from significant parts of Hiiraan, Middle Shabelle and Galmudug. Known as the 'ma'awiisley' for the typical 'ma'wiis' (sarongs) that Somali men wear, it was a clan and community-led offensive that the fresh Hassan Sheikh administration eagerly appropriated as a 'success story' for the federal government. Today, once again, scenes of young men with AK-47s battling Al-Shabaab along the Shabelle River valley are being touted as a token of Villa Somalia's counterterrorism zeal.