At Least 25 Killed and 80 Injured as Violence Escalates in Gambella City
By Staff Writer
(Nairobi, Kenya) — Severe armed clashes in Gambella city have left at least 25 people dead and more than 80 others injured following heavy exchanges of gunfire between armed groups and the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF).
According to field accounts from local residents, the violence erupted after members of the public carried the body of a civilian killed on October 13, 2026, to the regional council headquarters to protest rising security breaches across the regional capital. The demonstration triggered intense gunfire, leading to widespread clashes, the burning of residential homes and commercial properties, and the severe disruption of municipal movement. Residents indicated that similar targeted attacks have recurred across the region since September.
Eyewitness testimonies regarding the drivers of the conflict vary, with some residents citing deep-seated inter-communal tensions between Anuak and Nuer groups, while others report targeted attacks against non-indigenous residents, including individuals of Amhara background. Affected populations expressed severe anxiety and confusion over the lack of effective state protection, with many families fleeing their neighborhoods.
In response, the Gambella Regional Police Commission declared an indefinite state of emergency and imposed a strict curfew to restore order. While police officially attributed the violence to unidentified armed elements, local residents expressed skepticism on social platforms, asserting that the perpetrators are known entities operating within the city.
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