Recent events in the Horn of Africa have clearly demonstrated Ethiopia's blatant disregard for the territorial integrity of it's neighbors and confirmed it's role as the largest threat to peace and stability in the Horn of Africa.

With a cessation of fighting along the Eritrean/Ethiopian front, it is now apparent that Ethiopia has set its sights on The Somali Republic.

Ethiopia has steadily increased its military presence in Bay and Bakool regions while stepping up the delivery of arms to various warlords opposed to the internationally recognized interim government of Somalia.

Ethiopia has also moved a large contingent of troops from various areas in Ogaden to points of entry along the Ogaden/Somalia border. ONLF military officers monitoring the movements of Ethiopian forces have reported a sharp increase in Ethiopian military movements into Somalia in recent days. One ONLF observation unit operating near Dolo town on the Ogaden/Somalia border has reported the transport of large antennas and other communication equipment reportedly intended to establish a broadcasting station manned by Ethiopian troops in Southern Somalia. The same observation unit reported witnessing Ethiopian civilians being escorted into the Somali Republic by the Ethiopian military apparently with the attempt of resettling them in these newly occupied territories.

Ethiopian troops have also stepped up efforts to block natural trade routes between Ogaden and Somalia, which are instrumental to the people of Ogaden due to so called "security" concerns. Civilian residents along the southern portion of the Ogaden/Somalia border are being forcefully relocated by Ethiopian occupation troops apparently to hide the scale of Ethiopia military preparations and operations currently underway in Somalia.

In addition, ONLF informants in Gode, the capital of Ogaden, have reported the establishment of an operations center intended to provide logistical support for Ethiopian expansion into the Somali Republic. This operation center has been the scene of a series of high-level meetings between Ethiopian military commanders and their surrogates operating in Southern Somalia in recent weeks.

Finally, Ethiopian occupation troops in Ogaden captured by ONLF fighters in recent days have reported that they had been given orders to prepare to "re-deploy" to points across Southern Somalia. Others have reported being given orders to protect supply routes for Ethiopian forces in Somalia at all costs in preparation for an upcoming.

These and other disturbing events witnessed by the ONLF and the people of Ogaden indicate that Ethiopia is clearly bent on occupying a large portion of Southern Somalia in its desperate quest for an outlet to the sea.

Ethiopia's attempt to establish a puppet regional administration in Bay, Bakool and Lower Jubba regions and encouragement of other regional administrations opposed to the interim government is a blatant attempt to destabilize Somalia's first real attempt at reconciliation in 10 years. Such acts can only be interpreted as an attempt to destabilize the interim government and thereby thwart any step towards the establishment of a unified and strong Somalia.

The Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) urges the brotherly people of Somalia to resist Ethiopian occupation and tyranny. The ONLF further calls upon the Somali people to put there differences aside and rise in defense of their nation against Ethiopia's conspiracy to break up the Somali Republic.

The Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) urges the International community to intervene and check Ethiopian expansionism in the Horn of Africa before there is deterioration to a point where we once again witness a massive loss of life.