Surge in Deadly Attacks on Civilians in South Ethiopia; Oromo Liberation Army Blamed for Escalating Violence
October 30, 2024 : Violent attacks on civilians have surged in South Ethiopia, with recent incidents reported in both the Konso and Amaro zones. Last week, unidentified gunmen killed two people and injured two others in Segen town, Konso zone, an area already strained by long-standing regional disputes over administrative boundaries. The attack follows an earlier takeover of Segen town by an armed group in August, prompting federal troop deployment. Despite these reinforcements, violence continues to spread.
In the nearby Amaro (also known as Kore) zone, violence has worsened over the past month, with at least 15 civilians killed in Gorko woreda since September 11, the start of the Ethiopian New Year. Local administrators have attributed much of the violence to cross-border attacks from the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), operating from the neighboring Oromia region. These attacks target civilians, particularly farmers, in disputed areas involving the Gedeo, Kore, and Guji Oromo ethnic groups, all of whom have clashed over territorial claims.
The conflict has deep roots in regional administrative decisions dating back to 2011, with violence frequently flaring up despite peace efforts by both federal and local governments. The recent surge in violence highlights the challenges facing the newly established South Ethiopia regional government in stabilizing the region, with the OLA’s continued involvement exacerbating an already volatile situation.
EAR- Editorial Note
This news story is sourced from : https://epo.acleddata.com/2024/10/30/ethiopia-weekly-update-29-october-2024/
