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Latest massacre in west Ethiopia: more than 80 civilians killed

 Ethiopian flag Ethiopian flag Photo by Kelly Lacy on Pexels

13 January 2021

Over 80 civilians, ranging from age of two to 45, were killed in an area of west Ethiopia, where violence is on the rise. 

The latest civilian massacre in west Ethiopia occurred on 12 January 2021 between 5 and 7 AM (local time) in the region of Benishangul-Gumuz, bordering with Sudan and South Sudan. More in detail, the attack took place in the village of Daletti, in the Matekel area, that has been experiencing increasing violence in the recent months – which seems to be ethnically motivated – with a death toll of hundred of people. Suffice it to say that on 23 December 2020, approximately 207 people were killed in a single attack.

Aaron Maasho, spokesman and senior adviser for the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC), reported to Al Jazeera that in the recent attack over 80 people died. Even more worryingly, victims’ age ranges from two to 45. There seems to be no link between the recurring and increasing violence in Benishangul-Gumuz and the military operations in the northernmost Tigray region. Maasho additionally reminded that “the protection of civilians is the primary duty of the government”.

No individual or group claimed responsibility for the attack and the EHRC is “still chasing further details about the perpetrators” and how the victims lost their lives. The day after the attack, AFP was able to interview one of the survivors of the attack, Ahmed Yimam, who had counted 82 dead bodies and 22 people injured. He additionally reported that the perpetrators mostly used knives and to a lesser extent arrows and firearms, targeting civilians.

 

To know more, please read:

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/1/13/over-80-killed-in-west-ethiopia-attack-rights-commission

https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20210113-more-than-80-civilians-killed-in-new-attacks-in-western-ethiopia-rights-group-says

https://www.theglobaleye.it/ethiopia-over-80-civilians-killed-in-latest-west-ethiopia-massacre-ehrc-al-jazeera/

 

Author: Barbara Caltabiano

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