To much fanfare, Oromia's regional President Shimelis Abdisa and a breakaway faction of the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) agreed upon a 'peace deal' in early December 2024. At the time, Addis hailed the agreement as further proof of itself as a peacemaker, both nationally and for the Oromo people, no matter that fighting continued to rage across much of western and southern Oromia. But with its abysmal track record of adhering to domestic peace agreements, optimism was low that the accord marked a genuine turning point in the enduring conflict in Oromia rather than being another cynical attempt to splinter the Oromo political and armed opposition. Six months on, all evidence would suggest the latter, with the disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration (DDR) of surrendered OLA fighters in particular having been reneged upon.
In early December, the Oromia regional government led by Shimelis Abdisa and a splinter faction of the insurgent Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) inked a peace agreement. The ceremony, attended by senior federal and regional political and military officials, was heralded as a new chapter for Oromia, while President Shimelis Abdisa urged other armed groups to follow suit and lay down their weapons.