The relationship between the 'Ise Somali round Dire Dawa and the Ogaden was an uneasy one, and there was also a long history of competition over grazing between the Ogaden and Isaq clans to their north. There were even divisions within the Ogaden confederation of clans itself, not least between those leading the Ogaden guerrillas and clansmen in prominent positions in the Somali Republic. There was also mistrust and rivalry between the Muslim Oromo supporters of the W.S.L.F. and other Oromo (some Muslim), equally hostile to Mengistu's regime, some of whom supported the Oromo Liberation Front. Other Oromo again (and probably the majority of this large nation) were not directly allied with either of these organizations.

I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Som…, loc. 583