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Ethiopian Human Rights Commission – EHRCEthiopian Human Rights Commission – EHRC

Benishangul-Gumuz region: Protection of civilians is the primary duty of the government

December 24, 2020May 30, 2021 Press Release

Armed group shot at residents, set fire to homes, killing at least 100 people

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In Benishangul-Gumuz Region’s Metekel Zone, an armed group shot at residents and set fire to their homes as they lay asleep, killing at least 100 people. The attack in Bulen Woreda’s Bekuji Kebele is a sign of a severe decline of human rights protections in the region, the EthiopianHuman Rights Commission (EHRC) said.

EHRC verified the attacks by speaking with victims and other sources in Bekuji Kebele, an areahome to ethnic Amharas, Oromos, and Shinashas, and 90 kilometres away from Bulen Woreda’scapital, also called Bulen. EHRC has learned that Bekuji Kebele does not have a local police orsecurity force.

The commission’s team visited 36 victims who were receiving treatment at Bulen Hospital, the majority for gunshot wounds and others for injuries sustained from arrow attacks. In addition to the loss of life, physical injury and property loss, crops and harvests were burned and destroyed. One witness described seeing at least 18 piles of harvested crops on fire.In related incidents, the commission has also obtained testimonies of houses being burned in Benishangul-Gumuz’s Chelenko and Doshe Woredas. In Dibate Woreda’s Donben Kebele, residents have been fleeing their homes since noon on December 23, 2020 fearing the spread of the attacks.

EHRC also understands that the attacks followed the departure from the area on December 22,2020, of National Defense Forces contingents previously positioned in the surroundings torestore calm to allegedly “accompany one federal and two regional officials” on their officialmission. According to survivors, the attacks began in the early hours, 4:00 am, and carried onuntil midday.

Survivors also believe that the majority of the victims were ethnic Shinashas. While previous incidents involved assailants staging their attacks from “forests and bushes”, victims told EHRC they were able to recognize those involved in the December 23 attack “by name and sight”.EHRC has repeatedly called for stronger collaboration between the federal and regional governments and a greater focus into the recurring nature of the attacks. Unfortunately, the attacks have since only increased in scope and frequency.

Authorities should make provision of medical and humanitarian assistance to victims and thosedisplaced by the December 23 attacks a priority and promptly start investigations to bring theperpetrators to account, both for failure to protect and aggravation of the attacks. EHRC alsocalls for an immediate strengthening of the security structure and forces in the region in amanner that guarantees the peace and security of residents.

Location Benishangul-Gumuz

Related posts

September 4, 2021September 8, 2021 EHRC Quote
Benishangul-Gumuz Region: Detentions and unlawful arrests
July 16, 2021February 12, 2023 Press Release
በሲቪል ሰዎች ላይ የሚደርስ እንግልት፣ ከሕግ አግባብ ውጪ የሆነ እስርና ጥቃት በአፋጣኝ ሊቆም ይገባል
April 17, 2021May 30, 2021 EHRC Quote
Amhara and Oromia regions: Attacks, counter-attacks against civilians
September 26, 2020May 30, 2021 Press Release
Benishangul-Gumuz region: Another round of killings

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EHRC
We are an independent national human rights
institution tasked with the promotion & protection of
human rights in Ethiopia
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Address: Sunshine Tower No. 5, Meskel Square, on Bole Road next to Hyatt Regency Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Tel: +251115504031 | Fax: +251 11 550 4125 | PO Box 1165 Addis Ababa | Email: info@ehrc.org

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  • About
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