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By Siyanne Mekonnen @Siyaanne
Addis Ababa, December 17, 2020 – New attacks mounted by gunmen on December 15 left another round of unknown numbers of civilians killed in Dangur and Dibate Weredas in the Metekel area, in the regional state of Benishangul Gumuz. Officials from the Amhara regional state said the victims were members of the Amhara community who were attacked because of their identity while harvesting their crops in the field.
The latest attack came shortly after the Amhara regional state authorities issued a stern warning against neighboring Benishangul Gumuz officials to hold them accountable for the earlier attacks. Like all attacks in the past, there have been no details of the latest attack launched by officials from either side while Addis Standard attempts to obtain clarification were not answered. However, Addis Standard has received several graphic images of the victims, among which are women and children.
In response to allegations by Amhara regional state officials, the office of the ruling Prosperity Party (PP) in Benishangu Gumuz issued a statement on the same day as the attacks dismissing calls from the Amhara regional state and affiliated parties demanding that action is taken. taken in the Metekel area of the Benishangul Gumuz regional state. “Announcing a military action in a constitutionally demarcated region without recognition by the federal state is tantamount to declaring a civil war,” the statement said, denouncing what it called “repeated threats and intimidation.”
Healthy relations between the states are an important part of the federal system, the ruling party in Benishangul Gumuz said, and the main goal of the federal system is “for the regions to have autonomy over their own territories.” He also expressed his disgust at what is said to have been efforts by some who are working “to dismantle multinational federalism and overthrow the constitutional order, and destabilize the centuries-old unity among peoples” and condemned the promotion of hatred and conflict by calling the name of certain ethnic groups.
In an apparent reference to officials from the Amhara regional state, the ruling party’s statement in Benishangul Gumuz also blames the presence of instigators of the conflict “hidden in government and party structures” who it said were creating divisions between regions based on nationalism, racism and intolerance. . Without mentioning specifics, he blamed “these forces” for creating an obstacle to reform by labeling the problems as communal violence between various nations and exaggerating them. “These forces aggravate conflicts as an agenda of communal violence between nations and issue threats of military actions in a sovereign regional state without the knowledge of the federal government. “
Measures against criminals
In a related development, the Benishangul Gumuz State Regional Office for Communication Affairs announced that the regional state will continue to take action on those who are directly or indirectly affiliated with the “criminal group”.
The vice president of the regional state, Getahun Abdisa, admitted that the measures taken by the regional government to solve the security problems in the area during the last two years have not been exhaustive, but they have managed to prevent the problem from getting worse. He also admitted that attacks against civilians have continued to occur despite repression by these “criminal groups.” Several anti-peace forces have been dismantled by a coordinated effort between the regional government, the federal government, the regional police, the anti-insurgency and security forces at all levels, which led to some being captured while others were captured. yielded. “Those who perpetuate the narrative that there are groups that are economically, politically and socially marginalized should bring their problems to the table instead of misleading the public,” Getahun said, expressing the willingness of regional states to engage in a negotiation.
Additionally, Getahun spoke of a month-long implementation plan that has been put in place to further strengthen the area’s efforts to rehabilitate displaced people, provide humanitarian assistance, separate the community from the enemy, bring perpetrators before justice and restore peace in the area. . He condemned those who spread erroneous information on social networks for being counterproductive to the measures that are being taken to restore stability in the region; and strongly urged those who did so to refrain from their activities.
He added that the panorama of the region has made it difficult to carry out military operations but efforts are being made to dismantle the criminal group “once and for all” and thanked the National Defense Forces, the Federal Police and members of the regional anti-insurgency. . and security structures at all levels for the sacrifices they paid to resolve the security crisis in the area. AS
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