Stop the Mass Killing of the Oromo People and the Destruction of Their Homes and Property
Statement by the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF)
The Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) has repeatedly condemned the recurring mass killings being carried out across Oromia by the armed group known as Fano, which has been mobilized to seize Oromo lands and loot the property of the Oromo people under the guise of territorial expansion. Once again, the OLF strongly condemns the most recent massacre perpetrated by this repressive force against our people in Nono District and reiterates its firm opposition to such atrocities.
According to credible reports, on October 19, 2025, in Halo Dinki Village of Nono District, West Shewa Zone, Central Oromia, Fano militantsโdispatched for the plunder of Oromo land and propertyโmassacred more than 25 Oromo civilians, including elders and children. Some were shot dead, while others were brutally mutilated and slaughtered in a single location in an inhuman and horrifying manner.
The burning of civilian homes together with their inhabitants, along with the destruction of Oromo property, has repeatedly occurred in Nono District, West Shewa Zone. For example:
- On April 12, 2022, in the same district, Fano militants attacked peaceful residents, killing many and burning more than 40 farming households along with their livestock.
- Similarly, on the night of June 14, 2024, in the same district, at a village known as Qondaala, these forces once again committed a heinous atrocity against our people. During a wedding ceremony, they locked attendees inside a house, hurled a bomb inside, and set it ablaze. Those attempting to escape were gunned down. The OLF publicly denounced this barbaric act in its June 18, 2024 press statement.
These examples represent only a fraction of the recurrent atrocities committed by this terrorizing force in Nono District.
Across many border areas between Oromia and the Amhara Regionโincluding East Wollega, North Shewa, East Shewa, and West Shewa Zones, as well as the special zones of Oromia bordering the Amhara and Benishangul-Gumuz regions (such as Wollo and Metekel)โthe OLF has repeatedly exposed and condemned the actions of Fano militants. With the tacit protection or direct support of government security forces, Fano has openly looted Oromo property, displaced Oromo communities from their ancestral lands, and massacred civilians in large numbers. Once again, the Oromo Liberation Front urgently calls for an immediate end to the killing of the Oromo people on their own land.
The Prosperity Party (PP) government, instead of halting border violations against Oromia and preventing the mass killings being carried out by Fano militiasโor addressing the hunger, suffering, and multidimensional crises facing the Oromo peopleโhas chosen to engage in empty rhetoric about โdevelopmentโ while ignoring the peopleโs daily misery. While the Oromo nation is deprived of peace and stability, and its blood continues to be shed by Fano Amhara militias, both the Oromia Regional Administration and the Federal Government remain silent, as though they neither see nor hear the repeated atrocities being inflicted upon the Oromo people. This silence demonstrates their deep-seated contempt for the Oromo nation.
The governmentโs failure to protect Oromiaโs borders from Fano incursions, and its inability to use its security apparatus to safeguard the lives of peaceful citizens, is disgraceful. Once again, the OLF strongly calls upon the government to ensure the safety and security of our people.
Throughout successive Ethiopian regimes, political repression has repeatedly led to uprisings and crises. Particularly over the past seven years, severe injustices and human rights violations have engulfed the entire country, disproportionately affecting the Oromo people.
Mass killings, arbitrary arrests, and long-term detentions without due process for holding differing political views have become widespread under the current government. Under various pretexts, authorities have imposed excessive taxes and illegal levies on farmers, herders, and tradersโsystematically extorting money from the population. This has further impoverished a people already devastated by war, stripped of livelihood, and struggling merely to survive.
In light of the recent massacre in Nono District, the OLF expresses its deep sorrow and extends heartfelt condolences to all affected families. The Oromo people must understand that this tragedy will not stop unless we act collectively. The only effective response is for our people to stand together in unity and self-defense. We must recognize that no external power will come to our rescueโour safety and survival depend solely on our own collective strength and determination.
In conclusion, the OLF calls upon:
- The peoples of Ethiopia,
- All political organizations in the country,
- Non-governmental organizations,
- Civil society associations,
- Diplomatic missions and embassies in Ethiopia, and
- International human rights organizations and the global community
to raise their voices for our people, who have been deprived of security and are perishing en masse. The OLF urges all of these actors to exert meaningful pressure on the Prosperity Party regime, which is the root cause of these crises, so that a just and lasting solution may be achieved.
Victory to the Masses!
Oromo Liberation Front (OLF)
October 23, 2025
Finfinnee (Addis Ababa)