[ad_1]
By Mahlet Fasil @MahletFasil
Addis Ababa, November 23, 2020 – Dozens of civilians were killed and more than 94,000 displaced from various localities in the Konso Zone of the Regional State of Nations, Nationalities and Peoples of the South (SNNPRS) in sustained attacks by armed men.
During last week, Addis Standard has been closely following the worrying reports after receiving several calls from residents caught in the middle of the ongoing attacks, notably in Megala-Digaya kebelle, in Garcha Kebelle, in the Konso area Turo de Aylotta Dokatu Kebelle village, as well as Gato Kebelle and Derashe zone. Similar violence is also reported in several localities located in the Popular Zone of the Segen Area.
The Segen Area Popular Zone underwent a restructuring in November 2018, after nearly four years of protest by the Konso community, resulting in the division of the Konso area from the Segen Area People’s Zone , where Konso wereda, along with Derashe, Amaro and Burji formed the Segen Area People Zone since 2011.
Since then, there has been intermittent violence, largely attributed to armed groups that opposed the decision to divide the Konso area, neighbors with the Addis Standard say. Two years after the restructuring of the area, violence continues to plague the area.
The latest round of violence involves the Konso and Ale woreda area and was sparked by a boundary dispute between individuals since July 2020. “We did not think that a dispute between two people would wipe out the entire area,” an eyewitness from the Konso area said, adding: “The attacks that began with attacking us with sticks and stones have now turned into shots with heavy weapons.”
Several residents who approached ADdis standard He spoke of attacks lasting several days against members of the Konso community by armed groups. The security vacuum created as a result of the evacuation of the area by federal forces in recent weeks has contributed to intensifying the attacks. Addis Standard He has also received several photographs of victims and villages set on fire that need to be verified. These heavily armed groups have inundated regional and federal security forces to the point of forcing them to seek protection on the Gumayde woreda administration compound, as indicated in eyewitness accounts.
According to Kebede Kasussa, head of the Konso area agriculture and natural resources office, the last number of displaced civilians was 94,586 and it was increasing day by day.
Hassen Welalo, head of the peace and security office for the Konso area, confirmed that the attacks by armed men have been going on for more than 5 months. According to him, since then, the areas attacked by armed men have increased to cover several villages and have so far caused the deaths of around 70 people, including a member of the national defense forces, a regional special police force and one of the federal police.
According to Kebede Kasussa, head of the Konso area agriculture and natural resources office, the last number of displaced civilians was 94,586 and it was increasing day by day. Hassen Wellalo, for his part, says that almost 1,000 houses were burned in Ariba Gelala, Kalanigo, Garicha, Kebeles, Osiko woreda and seven villages in Gelabo and Fuchicha woredas.
No arrests have been made in direct connection to the attacks, Hassan said, further explaining that the number of federal and special police forces deployed was disproportionately less than the wide range of areas where the attacks are taking place. Hassan called on the government to intensify its efforts to rescue the people of Konso from further attacks.
On the other hand, the head of the SNNPRS Peace and Security Office, Alemayehu Bawde, indicated that former members of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) and members of the regional regional police who deserted from their units were behind the violence. According to him, the ENDF members include those who were relieved of their duties two years ago for descending into Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s palace. He also said that some 14 political leaders and administrators of Woreda have been arrested so far in connection with the violence.
Ale Special Woreda, for its part, stated the presence of repeated violence that claimed the lives of civilians and caused destruction of properties in the areas bordering Konso and Ale, and said that the authorities of both Woredas were working after establishing a group of joint work to identify root causes of problems. , according to joint task force leader Tadelle W / Michael. Three Woreda officials from each woreda affected by the violence were summoned to coordinate security together with regional security forces to bring the perpetrators to justice. AS
[ad_2]
