Wave of violence by armed men in western Ethiopia

Soldiers were deployed to the area where the violence took place.

(Illustrative image) PETER DELARUE / AFP

Text by: RFI Follow

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In Ethiopia, activists warn of a wave of violence perpetrated in the west of the country in recent weeks.

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, the ECHR, says it is "deeply concerned" by "disturbing reports" from this area.

Several sources speak of an armed militia which allegedly attacked dozens of civilians.

Possibly with ethnic motifs.

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From our correspondent in Nairobi,

The information is still patchy and the authorities are not very talkative.

But activists are worried about a wave of violence in recent weeks.

According to the

, the government nevertheless confirmed two waves of attacks against civilians during the month of September.

Violence in the region of

, in western Ethiopia.

The ECHR also speaks of hundreds of displaced civilians.

But local authorities say 300 people have already returned home.

The western command of the federal army does not deny the violence.

He says the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) have been deployed and relative calm has returned.

The soldiers reportedly rescued 27 civilians abducted by armed men, adding that arrests had taken place, without giving further information.

The Amharas particularly targeted?

The Amhara community denounces attacks specifically targeting it.

Christian Tadele, of the Amhara National Movement (NAMA) even speaks of 89 dead, 20 injured and 80 missing.

“ 

", did he declare.

The Amhara Association of the United States confirms these figures and explains having investigated this violence.

It describes assaults launched in three areas by heavily armed militiamen of the Gumuz ethnic group.

They are said to have kidnapped residents, mainly Amharas, before taking them to a school and executing them.

According to testimonies reported by the association, the militiamen reproach the Amharas for not having left the region despite previous warnings.

The organization even gives a list of identified victims.

The communications director of the

also denounces the ethnic nature of the events.

For his part, Major-General Tessema, of the Defense Forces, denies any community motivation.

He describes the attackers as disillusioned young people.

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