Metekel massacre

The Metekel massacre was a massacre which occurred during the 2019–2020 Metekel conflict which occurred on the night of 22–23 December 2020, in Bikuji kebele, Metekel Zone, Benishangul-Gumuz Region, Ethiopia. Houses were burned.[1][2] As of 23 December 2020, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission counted 100 deaths.[1] Authorities responded by killing 42 suspects and arresting seven officials.[3][4]

Context
Main article: Metekel conflict

Several massacres took place in the Metekel Zone during 2019–2020. Different regional and federal authorities disagree on the characterisation of the conflict.[2] The 22–23 December massacre followed several other ethnicity-related massacres in Ethiopia during late 2020.[1]

Massacre

A massacre and burning of houses took place during the night from 22 to 23 December 2020 in Bikuji Kebele in the Metekel Zone. Witness Tesfahun Amogne said that the residents had been surrounded by 500 gunmen. He said that security forces had been "repeatedly notified", and arrived after the attackers had left.[2]

Amhara Mass Media Agency described the victims as ethnic Amhara people and Agaw people with the killings as being "ethnically targeted".[2]

Initial estimates of the number of dead included 90,[2] 100 (Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, EHRC), 200 (National Movement of Amhara).[1] On 30 December, the government-owned Ethiopian Herald stated that there had been 207 fatalities.[5] According to the red cross 222 people were killed.[6]

Based on interviews with five witnesses, Amnesty International described the perpetrators as ethnic Gumuz militias and the victims as ethnic Amharans, Oromo and Shinasha, seen by the Gumuz ethnic nationalists as settlers.[1]

Response

The Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) responded to the massacre by killing 42 people who were alleged by state media to have been involved in the massacre. Benishangul-Gumuz Region security forces arrested seven officials in relation to the massacre.[3][4] On 30 December, Asrat Denero of the ENDF stated that a national joint task force of government officials and the ENDF had been created. Asrat said that the task force was seeking suspects. He stated that a process of community discussion "at all levels" had been started, with the aim of solving the root causes of the conflict.[5]

See also

References
  1. "More than 100 killed in latest ethnic massacre in Ethiopia". AP. 2020-12-23. Archived from the original on 2020-12-23. Retrieved 2020-12-23.
  2. Mekonnen, Siyanne; Fasil, Mahlet (2020-12-23). "News Alert: Eyewitnesses say more than 90 killed in fresh attack in Bulen Wereda, Benishangul Gumuz; region cautions civilians to join safe villages". Addis Standard. Archived from the original on 2020-12-23. Retrieved 2020-12-23.
  3. "Defence army takes measures against 42 anti-peace elements in Metekel zone". Fana Broadcasting Corporation. 2020-12-24. Archived from the original on 2020-12-25. Retrieved 2020-12-25.
  4. "Ethiopian troops kill 42 armed men behind deadly village attack, reports state TV". Al Arabiya. 2020-12-24. Archived from the original on 2020-12-25. Retrieved 2020-12-25.
  5. Wendimagen (2020-12-29). "Security task force takes over operation in Metekel". Ethiopian Herald. Archived from the original on 2020-12-30. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  6. https://news.sky.com/story/ethiopia-222-killed-in-village-massacre-as-ethnic-tensions-flare-red-cross-12172583#:~:text=Some%20222%20people%20have%20been,Sudan%2C%20amid%20rising%20ethnic%20tensions.

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