Over 52 people, including 21 civilians and local security forces, were killed in a Thursday morning attack in Buldiglo district, Benishangul-Gumuz region of Ethiopia
Borkena Desk
TORONTO, Canada – Gunmen killed over 52 people in the Benishangul-Gumuz region of Ethiopia. Twenty-one of the victims were civilians, while the remaining were members of the region’s anti-riot and militia forces.
BBC Amharic cited the region’s police commission reporting that the incident took place Thursday in Daleti kebele, Buldiglo district of the Assossa zone.
Endris Mohammed, the regional police commissioner, stated the attack occurred around 5 a.m. local time. He linked the attack to the militant group designated as a terrorist organization by the Ethiopian government, the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), commonly referred to by the government as “Shene”.
Daleti Kebele shares a regional boundary with the Oromia region of Ethiopia. The militant group, believed to have clandestine support within government structures, has launched similar attacks across Oromia and neighboring border areas over the past seven years. Armed attacks by the group have previously targeted areas including Gurage, Somali, Sidama, and parts of the Benishangul-Gumuz region.
According to the regional police commissioner, the assault in Daleti was a surprise attack, and the assailants fled the area shortly after.
The Ethiopian Defense Force and regional security forces deployed to the area following the incident, restoring calm, according to the commissioner’s interview with BBC Amharic.
The OLA has not commented on the attack at the time of writing. The group has been linked to recurring killings and kidnappings in the Oromia region. On Thursday, at least 38 Orthodox Christians were massacred in the Robe district of East Arsi, an attack regional authorities also linked to the OLA. The group also has a history of launching attacks in parts of the Amhara region, particularly around Ataye. The group has been making claims of “military gain” since March of this year.
The attack temporarily displaced residents of Daleti and the surrounding district. Commissioner Endris told BBC Amharic that local officials held discussions with residents after the incident, and community members have since returned to their homes.
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