The Case of Ogaden

The present essay draws on 20 years of research work done by Dr Mahamud Ugas as well as previous research carried out by Professor W. Michael Reisman (Yale Law School) and Professor Myres S. McDougal (Yale Law School) who were engaged in jointly and contributed more on the legal aspect of the process of the hand over of the Somali territory to Ethiopia. The paper outlines all the treaties between and among Abyssinia/ Ethiopia and European colonizers. It defines the Somali boundary and when and how the Ogaden, Hawd and Reserve Area were handed over to Ethiopia. The paper explains the current situation of the Somali State known as the Ogaden and how rich the land is, nevertheless how strangely its people are destitute! The book also describes the recent revolution in Ethiopia spearheaded by Dr Abiy Ahmed and its implication in the Ogaden Liberation Front's political agenda which has been shedding light on the destiny of the Somalis in the Ogaden throughout its struggle but seems to be in question now. Does ONLF want to secede from Ethiopia or wants Somalis to be given their right to decide their future?