You searched “jal maro” and found five spellings, two wars, and a story that changed again this weekend. It’s hard to know what’s solid.
Here’s the newest piece. On September 20, 2026, seven armed groups announced an alliance aimed at removing Ethiopia’s government, and Jal Maro’s Oromo Liberation Army is one of them. This guide gives you his real name, his path to command, the failed talks, the 2024 split, and what the alliance means. Where facts are disputed, you’ll see who says what.
Who Is Jal Maro? (Quick Answer)
Jal Maro is the war name of Kumsa Diriba, the commander of Ethiopia’s Oromo Liberation Army (OLA). Ethiopia’s government calls the group terrorist and hunts him. He says he fights for Oromo rights, and he denies that his fighters target civilians.
Think of him as the public face of a spread-out armed movement. The OLA has fought federal forces in Oromia since 2018. Observers often describe it as a loose set of fairly independent groups, not one tight chain of command. So his name stands for a large, uneven network. Claims about how much he controls depend on who you ask.
Jal Maro, Jaal Marroo, or Kumsa Diriba: Which Name Is Right?
They all point to the same man. Most news outlets write Jaal Marroo, so search that spelling for the best news results. “Jaal” is an Oromo title placed before a name, usually translated as “comrade” or “mister.”
| Name or label | What it means |
|---|---|
| Jal Maro | The most common search spelling of his war name |
| Jaal Marroo, Jaal Maroo | Spellings used by most news outlets |
| Kumsa Diriba | His real name (Kumsaa Dirribaa in Oromo) |
| OLA | Oromo Liberation Army, the group he commands |
| Shene | The label Ethiopia’s government uses for the OLA |
What Do We Know About Jal Maro’s Path From Student to Commander?
Jamestown’s 2022 profile and The Africa Report trace his rise. He studied at Addis Ababa University and was arrested in 2003 during student protests. After his release, he joined an underground Oromo youth movement. When its organizers were arrested, he fled to the Borena zone in southern Oromia. There he trained as a fighter and moved up the OLF’s armed wing.
A 2008 government offensive sent him to Uganda, where he served a short prison term instead of being handed over. A brief stay in Eritrea followed. He came back to Oromia around 2010 or 2011.
By 2016, he was a commander who oversaw an OLF-led offensive in western Oromia. Jamestown says he pushed for a clearer chain of command and political training for recruits. The same profile admits his exact role between 2012 and 2018 is unclear.
His age is fuzzy too. Wikipedia lists his birth as January 1, 1977, and flags the page for cleanup. Treat that date as unconfirmed.
How Did Jal Maro’s Army Split From the OLF?
In 2018, the OLF signed a peace deal with the government, agreed to disarm, and joined national politics. Jal Maro and other commanders refused. They kept fighting and became the OLA.
People mix the two groups up all the time. Here’s the difference.
| OLF | OLA | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1973 | Broke away in 2018 |
| 2018 deal | Signed it and agreed to disarm | Refused to disarm |
| Legal status | Recognized by Ethiopia’s election board | Designated a terrorist group by Ethiopia in 2021 |
Where Does the OLA Operate, and How Is It Run?
Oromia is Ethiopia’s largest region, with about 40 million people. It wraps around the capital, Addis Ababa. The Oromo make up more than a third of Ethiopians, by Jamestown’s 2022 count.
The OLA fights from forests it knows well. Jamestown describes a purposely spread-out command, a small online footprint, and a mobile force. That design makes leaders hard to kill or capture. AP’s 2026 interview shows the cost of that life. He moves constantly to stay ahead of government drones.
What Has Jal Maro Done Since 2021?
Jamestown’s profile ends in late 2021. Here’s what came after.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| May 2021 | Ethiopia’s parliament approved a terrorist label for the OLA (“Shene”) and the TPLF |
| Aug 2021 | The OLA and Tigrayan forces stepped up joint pressure on the government |
| Apr to May 2023 | First peace talks in Zanzibar end without a deal |
| Nov 2023 | Second round in Dar es Salaam ends without agreement |
| Dec 2024 | An OLA splinter faction signs a deal with Oromia’s government |
| Feb 2026 | He gives AP a rare interview from a forest hideout |
| Jun 2026 | Abiy Ahmed’s party wins a landslide in national elections |
| Sep 20, 2026 | Seven groups announce the Alliance for Survival |
What Happened in the 2023 Peace Talks?
The government and the OLA met twice. The first round was a week-long meeting in Zanzibar in May 2023. Both sides saw progress, but no deal came.
The second round was bigger. Addis Standard reported that Jal Maro was flown out of a remote area of western Oromia to attend, in what was reportedly his first face-to-face meeting with senior government military leaders. IGAD mediated, with Norway, Kenya, and the U.S. taking part.
After two weeks, the talks ended without agreement on November 21, 2023. Each side blamed the other. Prime Minister Abiy’s security adviser, Redwan Hussein, cited the OLA’s “intransigence” and unrealistic demands. The OLA said the government wanted to co-opt its leaders instead of fixing root problems. Both sides said some understandings were reached, but key political issues stayed unsolved.
Why Did a Big OLA Faction Sign a Deal in 2024?
This part is messy, so read both versions.
Sagni Nagasa, a former OLA central zone commander, announced that his faction no longer worked under the OLA. He accused Jal Maro of authoritarianism. On December 1, 2024, he signed a peace deal with Oromia’s president, Shimelis Abdissa. Regional media said more than 800 fighters in West Shewa entered camps. Ethiopia:
The OLA rejects that story. It called the reports a “fabricated drama.” It said Sagni had been dismissed earlier for sabotage. Neither account has been independently confirmed in the sources reviewed.
Fighting went on afterward. In April 2025, the army said it killed a man it called a close associate of Jal Maro who had attended the Tanzania talks. An OLA representative said the man led Jal Maro’s security detail there.
What Do Rights Groups Say About Civilian Harm?
The government says the OLA carries out ethnic massacres. Jal Maro answers with one line: “Our war is not against the people.” He says his fighters follow strict military discipline.
Outside investigators point at both sides. UN investigators and Amnesty International document OLA killings and kidnappings. They also cite government forces for indiscriminate drone strikes and extrajudicial killings. Access limits mean the toll is likely underreported.
The June 2026 election added a new claim. AFP reported that voting was interrupted in parts of Oromia and that the OLA disrupted polls, including attacks on Orthodox Christians in the Arsi district. Check the OLA’s own statements for its response.
Where Does the U.S. Stand on the OLA?
The U.S. helped at the table. It took part in the 2023 talks as an observer alongside Norway and Kenya.
The terrorist label is Ethiopia’s own. The State Department’s 2021 terrorism report said the U.S. government and the UN did not share Ethiopia’s designation of the OLA. That report is older. Verify live on the State Department’s current lists before you say anything stronger.
Read: Lola WBO: Oromo Conflict, OLA War & Ethiopia Explained Simply
What Is the Alliance for Survival, and Why Does It Matter?
The groups call it the Ethiopian Peoples’ Forces Alliance for Survival. They say they’ll build an inclusive transitional government guided by a charter, end the wars, protect rights, and open a national dialogue. Their statement accuses the government of “dictatorial rule.”
| Member | Background |
|---|---|
| Oromo Liberation Army | Fighting federal forces in Oromia since 2018 |
| Amhara Fano National Movement | A coalition of Fano factions fighting in Amhara since 2023 |
| TPLF | Dominated Ethiopian politics for nearly three decades before Abiy |
| Four smaller groups | ONLF, Ugugumo, Benishangul Peoples’ Liberation Movement, Gumuz Peoples’ Democratic Movement |
Two things stand out. First, some of these groups were enemies. Fano fought beside federal forces against Tigray in the 2020 to 2022 war, and Amhara and Tigray both claim Western Tigray. Second, the timing is tense. The TPLF called the 2022 Pretoria peace deal “effectively dead” in mid-July, and clashes in Tigray came weeks before the announcement.
A source close to Fano said the talks ran about a year. Jal Maro told a local broadcaster earlier this month that the leaders met several times. The government hadn’t publicly commented when Al Jazeera reported the news.
What Mistakes Should You Avoid When Reading About Jal Maro?
- Mixing up the OLF and the OLA. They split in 2018. Only one is labeled terrorist.
- Trusting 2021 articles. Claims from that year, like his boast that victory was near, are dated.
- Taking casualty or camp numbers at face value. Both sides publish claims that contradict each other.
- Searching one spelling. Try Jaal Marroo and Kumsa Diriba too.
- Assuming the terrorist label is global. It’s Ethiopia’s designation.
What Should You Watch Next?
Four things will show where this goes. Watch how the government answers the alliance. Watch whether the group publishes its promised charter and a transition plan. Watch whether the Tigray tensions turn into open war. And watch whether any new talks open with mediators.
Facts on this story move fast. Expect the picture to shift again.
Jal Maro FAQs
Who is Jal Maro?
He’s Kumsa Diriba, commander of the Oromo Liberation Army. Jal Maro is his war name.
Is Jal Maro still alive?
Yes, going by the latest reports. He spoke to a local broadcaster in September 2026.
Where is Jal Maro now?
It isn’t public. AP says he leads from remote forest outposts in Oromia and keeps moving.
What does the OLA want?
It calls its fight a liberation struggle for cultural rights, political representation, and more control over local resources.
Isn’t Prime Minister Abiy Oromo too?
Yes. The grievances persist even though Abiy is Oromo himself.
Did Jal Maro attend the peace talks?
Yes. He took part in the November 2023 round in Dar es Salaam.
How old is Jal Maro?
Wikipedia lists 1977, which would make him 49. Treat it as unconfirmed.
Is the OLA the same as the OLF?
No. The OLF signed the 2018 deal and joined politics. The OLA refused to disarm.
Has the U.S. labeled the OLA a terrorist group?
Not as of the State Department’s 2021 report. Verify live for any update.
What is the Alliance for Survival?
It’s a seven-group alliance announced September 20, 2026. It says it wants a transitional government to replace Abiy’s.