By: Getahun Tsegaye
Staff Reporter
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – The Enat Party, one of the prominent opposition political parties in Ethiopia, has issued a strong statement condemning the continued killing of civilians in the Guto Gida and Subu Sore districts of East Wollega Zone, Oromia Region. The party has raised alarm over the resurgence of violence in these areas, which have long been known as conflict hotspots.
The East Wollega Zone has seen renewed bloodshed in recent weeks after a period of relative calm. According to reports, eight civilians were brutally murdered two weeks ago, with four of them still missing. The most recent attacks have targeted several kebeles, including Jarto Tolera, Feyisa, Arjo, Loko, Ligo, and Wote in Guto Gida woreda, and Denego Guyo in Subu Sore woreda. These communities have now become the epicenters of the latest wave of assaults.
Residents report that the killings have continued unabated, with nine people murdered on the morning of Monday, June 16 alone. Many victims remain unburied, and widespread looting has been reported. Locals blame the attacks on “Shane,” a term commonly used by authorities to refer to the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA). They also allege that the violence is indiscriminately affecting both Amhara and Oromo communities. In the midst of the crisis, some officials are accused of exacerbating tensions by making identity-based decisions that are forcing people from their homes.
Community members say they are living in fear, sleeping outside for safety, and have repeatedly called on the government for intervention—calls which, they claim, have gone unanswered. According to residents, the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) is currently stationed at Wuke Kersa, just five kilometers from the active conflict zone. While initial moves by the ENDF suggested a response was underway, residents allege that zone administrators ordered the forces to withdraw. In a desperate plea, locals are now requesting that at least women and children be allowed safe passage to the neighboring Benishangul Region. They also express frustration that their limited weapons have been confiscated, while the attackers are reportedly using far more advanced arms.
In response, the Enat Party is calling for swift and decisive action. It urges the immediate deployment of the ENDF to prevent further massacres and insists that the public must not be denied the legal right to self-defense. The party also warns against the conduct of zone and woreda officials, accusing them of inciting violence through identity-based rhetoric and spreading divisive propaganda via media channels. The Enat Party calls on the federal government to hold these officials accountable and to take all necessary steps to protect the lives of civilians in East Wollega.
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