Significantly, OLA commander Kumsa Diriba has joined Ethiopian government and military officials in the talks for the time, the sources added.

A previous round of talks between the OLA and the government ended without agreement, and fighting continued.

The regional bloc, Igad, which is headed by Ethiopia’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs Workneh Gebeyehu is believed to be among key mediators.

Both the Ethiopian military and the OLA - which advocates "self-determination" for the vast Oromia region - have long been accused of gross human rights violations, which they always deny.

Human rights groups say the conflict in Oromia is ‘’hidden’’ from the international community, and urge the international community to step in to help end what they call Ethiopia's "forgotten’’ conflict.