Benishangul-Gumuz conflict: Difference between revisions

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	====22–23 December====		====22–23 December====
	{{main\|Metekel massacre}}		{{main\|Metekel massacre}}
	On the night of 22–23 December 2020, a massacre and burning down of houses took place in Bikuji ] in Metekel Zone.<ref name="AP_Metekel_massacre" /><ref name="AddisStand_90killed_Bulen" /> {{As of\|2020\|12\|23}}, the ] counted 100 deaths.<ref name="AP_Metekel_massacre" /> Authorities responded by killing 42 suspects and arresting seven.<ref name="FanaBC_42executions" /><ref name="AlArabiya_42executions" />		On the night of 22–23 December 2020, a massacre and burning down of houses took place in Bikuji ] in Metekel Zone.<ref name="AP_Metekel_massacre" /><ref name="AddisStand_90killed_Bulen" /> {{As of\|2020\|12\|23}}, the ] counted 100 deaths.<ref name="AP_Metekel_massacre" /> Authorities responded by killing 42 suspects and arresting seven officials.<ref name="FanaBC_42executions" /><ref name="AlArabiya_42executions" />

	== See also ==		== See also ==

Revision as of 08:18, 25 December 2020

Metekel conflict

Part of conflicts in the Horn of Africa

Location of Benishangul-Gumuz in Ethiopia

Date	23 June 2019 – present
Location	Metekel, Benishangul-Gumuz, Ethiopia
Status	ongoing

Belligerents

Ethiopia

ENDF

Tigray People's Liberation Front (alleged)

Oromo Liberation Army

OLF/Shanne (alleged)

Gumuz militias (alleged)

Commanders and leaders

Abiy Ahmed

Ashadli Hussein

Debretsion Gebremichael

unknown

Strength

500+

Casualties and losses

unknown

42 killed

335 – 445+ civilians killed

The Metekel conflict is an armed conflict in the Metekel Zone of the Benishangul-Gumuz Region in Ethiopia during 2019 and 2020.

Groups involved

Ashadli Hussein, president of the Benishangul-Gumuz Region, stated that there were many groups associated with political parties encouraging the armed conflict. He blamed the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) as holding the main responsibility.

In December 2020, Ashadli stated that federal and regional security forces were coordinating in "annihilating 'anti-peace forces', arresting them, and confiscating firearms". Vice-president of the Benishangul-Gumuz Region, Getahun Abdisa, described the region's actions in terms of a "coordinated effort between the regional government, the federal government, the regional police, anti-insurgency and security forces" of detaining members of "criminal groups". On 21 December 2020, the Benishangul-Gumuz Command Post stated that it was using a "door-to-door hunt" response to suspected perpetrators of the violence.

At a public meeting with prime minister Abiy Ahmed on 22 December, Zebid Budna of Kamashi Zone attributed the violence to an Oromo Liberation Army group "OLF/Shanne".

Peace process

On 22 December 2020, Abiy Ahmed held talks with Metekel Zone residents, Minister of Peace Muferiat Kamil, army Chief of Staff Berhanu Jula, Ashadli Hussein, and other officials.

In December 2020, Ashadli stated that the Ministry of Peace would coordinate the creation of a reconciliation committee consisting of people from the Benishangul-Gumuz and Amhara Regions.

Timeline

2019

23 June

The Amhara Region coup d'état attempt took place on 22 June 2019. Early on the morning of 23 June, armed men suspected to supportive of the leader of the attempted coup killed 37 people and wounded 18 in the Metekel Zone.

2020

September

Weeks of attacks on civilians took place in Metekel Zone in early September, especially in Bulan. Online social media estimated 150 deaths, which Atinkut Shitu, administrator of Metekel Zone, disputed. According to social media as summarised by Addis Standard, the targets were ethnic Amharans. Officials stated that the attacks had no ethnic motivations.

14 November

Main article: 2020 Ethiopia bus attack

The 14 November bus attack on a passenger bus in Benishangul-Gumuz killed 34 people.

15 December

Civilians were killed in the Dangur and Dibate woredas on 15 December. Amhara Region officials stated that the victims were Amharans killed for their ethnic identity. Benishangul-Gumuz officials disagreed with the identifying the conflict as "communal violence between various nations". Addis Standard estimated on 22 December that Metekel Zone attacks had killed 24 people.

22–23 December

Main article: Metekel massacre

On the night of 22–23 December 2020, a massacre and burning down of houses took place in Bikuji kebele in Metekel Zone. As of 23 December 2020, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission counted 100 deaths. Authorities responded by killing 42 suspects and arresting seven officials.