It was confirmed earlier this week that members of the Oromo Liberation Army (O.L.A.) traveled to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania to engage in a second round of peace talks with the Ethiopian government. The rivalry between the O.L.A. and the government has existed for decades with no concentrated effort towards peace until the first round of peace talks, six months ago.

According to A.P. News, the first round of talks sought to build confidence and pave the way for a future of peace throughout Ethiopia. Though these talks did not end in a peace agreement, both sides further verbalized their commitments to peace, allowing for this second round of talks.

The O.L.A. “remain[s] committed to finding a peaceful political settlement,” the group’s statement emphasized. The Ethiopian government echoes this attitude. This effort put forth from upper-level officials in both the government and O.L.A. bodes well for the possibility for increased stability and peace.

The new peace talks – mediated by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (I.G.A.D.), an African regional group that is committed to peace throughout the continent – are critical for the stability of the country. The O.L.A. is based out of the Oromia region, which directly surrounds the country’s capital of Addis Ababa (encompassing ⅓ of the country’s territory) and is home to 40 million Ethiopian citizens, making it the most populous region in Ethiopia. The unrest there has killed hundreds of citizens and displaced tens of thousands.

Ethiopia’s current prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, hails from the Oromia region. This gives him a deeper understanding of the conflict, thus increasing the tractability of these talks.

According to the Chanzo Initiative, the conflict between the government and O.L.A. dates back to the 1960s, with the Oromia region reporting instances of marginalization by the federal government, along with territorial disputes, political struggles, and conflict with other communities. This conflict recently manifested in ethnic massacres, causing the federal government to classify the O.L.A. as a terrorist organization. (Oromia has blamed the prime minister for these multiple ethnic cleansings, although Abiy has denied these claims.)

Currently, the O.L.A. is not thought to pose as significant of a threat as the government once feared. Africa News attributes this to disorganization and the O.L.A.’s lack of centralized authority. The Oromo Liberation Army simply demands respect and basic human rights for the Oromo people. The deprivation of this, they argue, is what has caused them to begin an armed struggle. However, the group also emphasizes that its goal is not war and it understands the necessity for peace as a foundation for functional societies.

Given that both sides have willingly participated in two rounds of peace talks, it is clear that consistent effort is being made to rectify decades of issues. This effort by Ethiopia and the O.L.A. demonstrates that peace will be possible.