Ambassador Media | July 19, 2023 | Addis Abeba
At least 15 innocent civilians were killed in a series of violent attacks carried out by militants in Ethiopia’s Gambella region in July alone, according to multiple eyewitness accounts reported by Addis Maleda.
The assaults, which have targeted the Agnwak ethnic zone, are reportedly being carried out by armed Murle tribesmen who crossed into Ethiopia from neighboring South Sudan through Dima Woreda. Local residents said the attacks intensified in early July and have included killings, looting of livestock, and the burning of residential homes.
The violence is not limited to the Agnwak zone. Witnesses also reported similar attacks in Itang Woreda, where two civilians were killed in May. Tensions continue to rise following a May 22 attack allegedly carried out by members of the Nuer ethnic group, which left three people from the Agnwak community dead and further deepened interethnic hostilities in the region.
On July 13, an unspecified number of people were gunned down during an assault on a public bus traveling from Itang Woreda to Gambella Town, marking one of the most brazen incidents of violence in recent weeks.
Residents are expressing growing alarm over the deteriorating security situation, particularly in Dima Woreda, which shares borders with volatile regions of South Sudan and the South West Ethiopian People’s Region. Armed groups operating under various names are said to be carrying out coordinated attacks, killing civilians and destroying property.
In the wake of the violence, many residents have fled their homes and are seeking refuge in Gambella Town. Despite repeated appeals for help, Addis Maleda reported that calls to the Gambella Regional Peace and Security Office have gone unanswered.
With rising interethnic tensions and continued cross-border incursions, local communities are calling for urgent government intervention to restore peace and prevent further bloodshed.
