PM Abiy Denounce Killing of Civilians in W. Ethiopia

ADDIS ABABA – Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has condemned the killing of innocent civilians in West Wollega zone of Oromia regional state, as rights agency urge his administration to devise sustainable solutions for lasting peace in Western Ethiopia.

Gunmen killed 28 civilians in an attack on a Babo Gambel district of Wolega Zone on Tuesday.

The region’s government blamed the attack, in which 12 more people were wounded, on a splinter group from the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), known as OLF-Shane.

In a statement Wednesday, Prime Minister Abiy extended his deepest condolences to the bereaved families who lost their loved ones and the people of Ethiopia.

“Our enemies are trying to deter our on-going journey by killing our citizens,” he said. “However, standing united and paying sacrifices, we will continue our journey”.

The Prime Minister added that the federal government, in collaboration with regional states, is taking retaliation measures against perpetrators.

He urged the people not to fail on the trap of destructive forces but to join hands with the government in bringing perpetrators to justice and ending the recurrence of similar attacks.

State-financed Ethiopian Human Rights Commission said the latest attacks on residents in Western Wollega show that “the security situation in the area has not improved and is instead spreading to neighboring regions and causing additional human rights violations”.

It said, in addition to announced immediate measures to calm the areas concerned, “the federal authorities need to design sustainable solutions involving all stakeholders in order to restore lasting peace that guarantees people’s right to live in any region in the country”.