Zonal Authorities Attribute Deadly Sodo Woreda Attacks to OLF-Shene as Displaced Residents Appeal for Federal Intervention
By Staff Writer
(Nairobi, Kenya) — Residents of Sodo Woreda in the East Gurage Zone, Central Ethiopia Region, are experiencing severe security threats following a series of fatal attacks by armed groups that have killed at least 11 farmers within two weeks.
Local family members and residents confirmed that six farmers were killed in Suten Kebele on September 29, 2026, followed by a targeted assault on October 10 in the Gefersa Giorgis and Joro border areas that claimed five more lives. Witnesses said the October incident occurred when locals attempted to free eight civilians detained by armed actors. Areru Siyum, Tesera Amare, Ade Abebe, Mamush Getachew, and Birhanu Haile were killed at the scene, while another sustained critical injuries and is receiving care at a local health center.
Community members expressed anxiety over delayed security interventions, noting that residents have formed local vigilante patrols and abandoned agricultural activities. Extreme conditions have triggered mass displacement, with families fleeing affected kebeles for urban centers such as Bui, Tiya, Suten, and Butajira. Residents also reported widespread criminal abuses by armed groups, including kidnapping for ransom, sexual violence, livestock theft, and property extortion across rural kebeles.
East Gurage Zone Deputy Administrator Desu Abegaz acknowledged the recurring violence, attributing the attacks to the OLF-Shene armed group, designated as a terrorist organization by the House of Peoples’ Representatives. He stated that zonal authorities are consulting with security leadership and government officials from the neighboring Oromia and Central Ethiopia regions to coordinate joint security operations and mitigate border threats.
__
Join our Telegram Channel : t.me/borkena
Like borkena on Facebook
Join the conversation. Follow us on X (Formerly Twitter) @zborkena to get the latest Ethiopian News updates regularly. Subscribe to YouTube channel To share information or for submission, send e-mail to info@borkena.com
To Support Borkena : https://borkena.com/subscribe-borkena/ – one time support or small monthly options available. Inquire information about it : info@borkena.com