Addis Globe, September 26, 2020.

Daniel Bekele, head of the the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC), said in a statement late on Friday an armed militia killed at least 15 people in the Dangur Woreda of Metekel Zone – Benishangul Gumuz Regional State. In this same place 30 innocent civilians were killed by armed militia two weeks ago.

The EHRC statement says “Civilians are being subjected to repeated attacks with unmitigated cruelty in Benishangul-Gumuz.” The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission is deeply alarmed by the surge in attacks against civilians in the province & calls on authorities to take the required steps to hold perpetrators to account.

The Commission said that the Ethiopian National Defense forces engaged in a shootout with armed gunmen in the area and were able to restore calm by Friday afternoon.

The EHRC did not say who was behind the attacks and as was the case in the past, the identities of perpetrators of the attack are said to be unknown. 

Such actions poses the latest security challenge for the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

In the latest development, Peace and Security Chief of Dangur Woreda, Metekel Zone was arrested yesterday according to a statement released to Benishangul Gumuz Communication Affairs Office. Following the recent attacks that took the lives of more than 20 civilians in Dangur Woreda, “the Command Post took measure to arrest the Peace and Security Head of Dangur Woreda” said the Zone’s Command Post Chairman and Head of the 22nd Division of the Defense Forces, Brigadier General Negeri Toli. Brigadier General Negeri Toli, in his statement said “albeit continuous warning from the Dangur Woreda Administrator to the Woreda’s Peace and Security Office, no precautionary measures were taken to ensure safety by the Peace and Security Office of Dangur Woreda and thus the damage took place”. The Zone’s Command Post reported that “at 4 AM in the evening on September 24, 2020, ‘anti-peace’ forces attacked several civilians in Dangur Woreda’. He said “the army arrived at 5:40 AM and took measure on 9 armed individuals”.

Picture Source: Social media.