Residents Under Siege II: Atrocities of invading Oromo militias in Ethiopia’s Amhara region
For Immediate Release
GPE Public Relations
April 16, 2021
The area including & surrounding Ataye (Efeson), Efratana Gidim woreda (district), Semien/North Shewa zone, Amhara region is once again under siege from well armed Oromo militias. Disturbing footage clearly shows the Oromo forces (in Afan Oromo) admitting to the destruction and rejoicing as Ataye town can be seen burning in the background. The footage offers a chilling glimpse into the genocidal motivations of the invading Oromo militias. One of the soldiers can be heard saying (translated to English):
“I don’t exactly know the name of the places but the site, such as the graveyard of the Amhara that is burning is where the Amhara live”
The mention of burning the town suggests a clear intention to level the town with the residents in it which constitutes an egregious human rights violation as well as a clear act of ethnic cleansing targeting the residents of the town who are ethnic Amhara. In addition, references to Allah suggest the soldiers are followers of the Islamic faith suggesting a role of ethnic and religious fanaticism and expansionism.
Credible reports from witnesses and local officials reveal a high number of civilian casualties as a result of this unprecedented attack. In addition, it is being reported that local security forces were killed in the attack as they attempted to defend civilians. A significant amount of property destruction has also taken place in the town and surrounding area including total scorching of crop fields, burning of homes of families, destruction of local businesses and destruction of infrastructure. Local hospitals are being overwhelmed with injured patients. The town of Ataye is still recovering from the damage sustained in the last major invasion/attack last month in March 2021.
https://gpethiopia.medium.com/residents-under-siege-oromo-militias-invade-amhara-region-3bcd66d04a9a
Witnesses & survivors report involvement of Oromo militias including part of Oromia regional state Oromo Special Forces some of whom wore uniforms of the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF). The modus operandi of the attack also strongly implicates a role of the Oromo Liberation Front/Army (OLF/OLA). Stories are consistent with previous invasions/attacks including a major attack that took place in March, 2021.
Witness reports, photographic and video evidence all suggest sophisticated coordination, equipment & weaponry suggesting the attack was not only premeditated but received sophisticated logistical support suggesting direct complicity from the Oromia Regional government. This ordeal comes at the heels of a highly advertised joint regional government convention between top officials of the Amhara and Oromo regional governments, Amhara Prosperity Party (PP) and Oromo PP, respectively. In the weeks/months prior, multiple mass atrocities were committed against ethnic Amhara including in the Oromia, Benishangul-Gumuz and Amhara regions and in almost all cases external to the Amhara region, local administrative officials have been accused of complicity in the massacres. The leaders of the ruling Oromo PP, Prime Minister @AbiyAhmedAli and Oromia Regional President, @ShimelisAbdisa have repeatedly failed to acknowledge attacks are ethnically-based targeting ethnic Amhara, consistently condemn attacks and provide any meaningful protection for civilians across Ethiopia. This failure to protect civilians has led activists to accuse these attacks of being sponsored by the state (among other evidence). GPE calls on all levels of government to condemn these atrocities, provide protection to innocent civilians, deploy well-prepared and well-equipped security forces to neutralize terrorist elements, and hold perpetrators of atrocities accountable under national and international law.
