Hundreds of Thousands in Ethiopia Welcome Once-Banned Group

Local Editor

Hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians gathered Saturday to welcome returning leaders of the once-banned Oromo Liberation Front amid sweeping reforms to bring opposition groups back to politics.

The OLF and two other organizations were removed from a list of terror groups earlier this year after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took office. He invited them to come home.

Some 1,500 OLF fighters returned to Ethiopia from neighboring Eritrea earlier Saturday.

A large concert was set to be held in Meskel Square in the capital, Addis Ababa, to welcome OLF leader Dawud Ibsa and others. Events also are being held in Oromia, Ethiopia's largest region.

After clashes in recent days over displays of the OLF flag in the capital, Abiy condemned any incitement of violence. Police used tear gas to separate the two sides.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team