May 23, 2008 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethnic clashes erupted in Ethiopia between the neighboring Gumuz and Oromo leaving hundreds killed and thousands displaced in Eastern Wellag of Oromia state.
The clash started on Saturday May 18, 2008, when armed Gumuz crossed over from their regional state to Oromia State and attacked villages before day break”, residents told Sudan Tribune.
Government officials have declined giving the official number of the victims of the conflict so far. Residents said that over 130 people died and about 8000 people have been internally displaced.
People died from both sides of the tribes but eyewitnesses have said, “the attacks were preplanned and nocturnal and the Oromos were caught unprepared ; as result, the majority of the people who lost their lives and whose houses were burned down with children inside were Oromos.”
Oromos further accused the federal government of manipulating and arming the Gumuz to attack their neighboring Oromo over land claim.
The Oromo residents also suspect both the regional sate of Benishangul Gumuz and central government have role in arming and mobilizing the Gumuz to attack them.
Benishangul Gumuz state is located in the border with the eastern Sudan state of Blue Nile.
The federal police and Oromia regional police have not intervened to avert the armed attacks, residents claimed. They further say that the conflict is still going on and people are dying, houses and properties are being burned down daily.
For over a century, the two tribes share the same history of repression under successive Ethiopian regimes and lived together peacefully.
The Oromo are the largest single ethnic group in Ethiopia, at 32.1% of the population according to the 1994 census, and today numbering around 25 million.
They are divided into two major branches that break down into an assortment of clan families, however a number of ethnic based political organizations have been formed to promote the interests of the Oromo. Some of it seek to create an independent Oromo nation, some using armed force.
Giving a land that belongs to one group to the other to incite conflict has been seen in many neighboring Southern region since the current regime came to power in 1991. Land is also the cause of the conflict between the invading Sudanese Army in the Amhara region of Ethiopia.
(ST)
May 24th, 2008 at 4:21 am
እያለቀሱ ነው ያዳመጥሁት::
አይ አገሬና ወገኔ እንዲ ለመሆን በቃሽ::
ወያኔና ትግሬ እኔ አንተን አያድርገኝ ያ የማይቀረው ግዜው ሲመጣ::
May 24th, 2008 at 4:45 am
It is an intentional activity of TPLF!
May 24th, 2008 at 5:46 am
yes, it is a known woyane international busyness. It asked for Wheat from the in’tional donors and then sells with its companies for the benefit of woyane officials,
From this international begging, only the woyane officials will be beneficial not the poor Ethiopian people
Shame on woyane who is fullm of lies. Few months ago, woyane was telling us that the Economy is growing at 10% rate, but now this exposed that it was a lie
May 24th, 2008 at 10:15 am
It seems that the Gumuz has fulfilled the Woyane homework, but believe me the Oromos has tolerated them more than three times their dirty job believing that Gumuz are not the owner of the issue.Now, patience has considered as cowardice and the Gumuz themselves know that once the Wollega people arise what they will face.
Actally Woyane has done for revenge recent devastitaing measure taken against Agazi and its leftover scavanger(OPDO) in Begi and Mendi.Woyane totaly lose one ful brigede of more than 800 army .Woyane feel the heat that is why Seyoum ran to sudan.Since Agazi is streached, it use hatred as a means of warfare hoping that Gumuz will help to block the route from Asosa to Horo-guduru and then Ambo.All those hook and cruk does not help, the end of Woyane running fast.
May 24th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Gumuz people are normally not that aggressive against Oromo, until a TPLF puppet by the name of Dr. Mekonon Golassa started to plant seeds of conflict. The DR. and his associates will be get their reward sooner or latter
May 24th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
It is an intentional of action woyane to divert internal pressure that could erupt in the near future,but this has to be organized and all real Ethiopians against woyane stand up throughout the country…..at a time like the meskerem 22 1998 countrywide demonstration which was reversed by Beyene petros and his dull group who represent woyane in the so called parlament…. manipulated by the dull prime’mistry’…
Ethiopia Belijochua Netsanetuan Tigonasefalech….