A five-member negotiating team of the Oromo Democratic Front (ODF), led by Lencho Leta, Chairman of the Front, has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia early on Wednesday 23 May.
Last week, the government of Ethiopia announced that it had begun talks with the Front.
Members of the team were received by high-level government officials, including Abadula Gemeda, Security Advisor to the PM and Ahmed Shide, Minister of Government Communication Affairs Office.
Lencho told journalists that his Party has decided to return home as the ongoing reforms in the country are encouraging to carry out a peaceful struggle.
“We will continue the talks which we have started with the government,” he said.
“Based on conditions, we will decide to operate as a legal, political party or by forming an alliance with other parties,” he added.
Lencho finally called on other political parties based in foreign countries to follow suit by taking into account the ongoing reforms in the country.
On Thursday 24 May, Ethiopia’s prime minister Abiy Ahmed met with representatives of the Oromo Democratic Front (ODF). Both parties agreed to work together with a singular focus on fostering Ethiopia’s national unity and deepening the country’s democratic process.
The ruling EPRDF coalition announced in January 2018 that it was set to undertake political reforms which included opening up the democratic space and guaranteeing more political freedoms.
Subsequently, there were mass prisoner releases, including of leading political opponents and detained journalists.
