The Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) claims to have killed over 400 government soldiers in a series of clashes across Ethiopia’s Oromia and Amhara regions during a recent surge in its “Thousand Fronts Operation.”

The armed ethnic Oromo nationalist group announced Saturday that it killed 412 government soldiers and wounded 502 others during 10 days of fighting across eight operational commands, including Wollega, Shewa, Arsi, Hararge, Guji, Borena, and Wollo. It also said it captured 75 government troops.

According to OLA, the battles have involved more than 35 engagements and resulted in the seizure of hundreds of AKM rifles, sniper rifles, Bren machine guns, and large amounts of ammunition.

Government Dismisses Claims

The Ethiopian National Defense Force dismissed the OLA's battlefield claims. Colonel Girma Ayele stated that the group's operations in Borena had been neutralized and insisted the fighters “can no longer be a threat.” However, such assertions have been repeated for years, while the OLA continues to operate across wide swathes of Oromia.

The group remains officially designated as a terrorist organization by the Ethiopian government, which often refers to it by the nickname “Shene.”

Wollo and Oromia Heartland

While most of the fighting has occurred within Oromia, the group claims to have extended operations into Wollo, a part of the neighboring Amhara region. The specific targets within Wollo were not disclosed, though it contains a designated Oromo-speaking zone.

OLA’s recent activity underlines its sustained ability to wage multi-regional insurgency despite government military efforts.

Long-running Insurgency

The Oromo Liberation Army emerged from a split with the Oromo Liberation Front and has been engaged in a violent insurgency against the Ethiopian state for over six years. It has been accused of mass killings, particularly of ethnic Amhara civilians, and large-scale kidnappings for ransom.

Despite repeated government offensives, the OLA remains entrenched in rural Oromia and continues to mount attacks against federal and regional forces.