More than 100 killed in ethnic massacre in Ethiopia
ADDIS ABABA The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission says more than 100 people have been killed in the latest massacre along ethnic lines in the western part of the country.
Amhara Mass Media Agency, affiliated with the country’s Amhara region, quoted witnesses in a separate report as saying the attack took place early Wednesday in the Metekel zone of the Benishangul-Gumuz region.
The attack came a day after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed visited the region and spoke about the need to bring those responsible for the latest attacks to justice. Ethnic tensions are a major challenge as Abiy seeks to promote national unity in a country with more than 80 ethnic groups.
The attacks are separate from the deadly conflict in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region, where Ethiopian forces and allied regional forces began fighting Tigray’s regional forces in early November.
Some people in remote villages remained surrounded by threats Wednesday night with the total number of deaths above 200, claimed Belete Molla, leader of the National Movement of Amhara political party. He said he had spoken by telephone to some residents.
It was not immediately clear who the attackers were, although Belete claimed to be members of the Gumuz militia. The ruling party in the region, the Benishangul-Gumuz Prosperous Party, said in a statement that “armed bandits” had committed a “horrific crime.”
Amharas are the second most populous ethnic group in Ethiopia. Amharas in the region have been targeted repeatedly in recent weeks.
A November 1 rebel attack in the remote western Oromia region killed at least 54 people, according to Amnesty International.
According to a security official, at least 14 civilians were killed in an attack in the Benishangul-Gumuz region in early October. It followed similar deadly attacks in September that also displaced over 300 people, leading to the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission saying it was deeply troubled.
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