According to a report by Fana Broadcasting Corporation sectarian violence is once again on the rise in Ethiopia. The violence affected parts of the region adjacent to Oromo regional state, with shares a border with Beshangul regional state.
There has been a recurrent ethnic based violence in the region for many months now that affected ethnic Amhara and Oromo. However, the latest tension in the region is of retaliatory measure and is targeting ethnic Oromos. Authorities say that thousands of ethnic Oromo have been displaced to districts in Oromo region of Ethiopia that are close Benshangul regional state.
Zelalem Jaleta, Benshangul Region Communication Head, reportedly confirmed the tension in the region and said that ethnic Gumuz have left behind their houses and flocked to the jungle while ethnic Oromos crossed to adjacent districts in Oromo regional state.
This comes after four gunmen killed four senior security authorities of Kamash zone near Ghimbi in Wellega as they were heading back to Benhangul region after a consultative meeting with Oromo regional state security officials, and there has been conflicting information about the identities of the gunmen. Initially, it was reported as “unidentified gunmen.”
Later, Oromo regional state officials confirmed that claimed that the gunmen carried out the attack “in the name of Oromo Liberation Front (OLF)” which is known to have armed fighters in the region.
This comes less than a week after five members of the Oromo Liberation Front where charged with Terrorism for attempting to assassinate the Prime Minister.
We will keep you updated with the latest developments and updates from the region.
Halgan Media.
