Ethnic violence against Amaro Koore
Amaro is located in Ethiopia
Amaro
Amaro
Amaro (Ethiopia)
Duration1994–present
LocationAmaro woreda zone, Gedeo, West Guji, Ethiopia Ethiopia
TypeEthnic violence
  • Civilians and farmers killed and injured
  • Hundreds of IDPs
  • Homes burned down
  • Livestocks stolen
ThemeOngoing ethnic violence
CauseLand drawn along ethnic lines (Ethnic federalism)
MotiveDispute over administrative land, leadership and territory
Participants OLF or OLF-shene
Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region Militants from various ethnic groups in SNNPR
Oromia regions
Deaths52+ killed, 15+ injured. Ongoing

This is part of the series of violence between minorities in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region (SNNPR) and West Guji Zone of the Oromia regions, causing frequent attacks against ethnic Koore and other minorities in the Amaro special woreda and surroundings.[1][2][3] Ethiopian Human Rights Council underscored the increasingly frequent nature and spread of conflicts and security issues in the area and called for preventative measures.

Background and events of the conflict

This section lists the background on the frequent conflicts that occurred in disputed administrative lands shared between the SNNPR and Oromia regions, which is often referred to as West Guji.[4]

Period Event and land administration Description Date
pre-1980s Historical land occupation by the Guji and Koore people Eviction of the Guji and Koore people by the State, annexation of their land to the Nechisar park in early 1980s [5] Historical
pre-1994 Previous administration was under the Sidamo Province Occasional interpersonal disputes were resolved with communal councils[4] Historical
During EPRDF The start of Ethnic federalism Administration of lands with ethnic lines. The Guji Oromo fell under the Oromia region, a portion of them inhabited areas of SNNPR. The Gedeo continued in SNNPR[4] 1994
During EPRDF Expansion and disputes between SNNPR Expansion of the newly drawn Oromia regional state to the small zones in SNNPR that share borders During EPRDF
During EPRDF Referendums and conflict Clashes, killings and displacement[4] 1995 to 1998
During EPRDF Amaro-Guji clashes 13 people killed, houses burned down, over 400 IDPs 29 July 2017[6]
During Prosperity Party Political "superiority" of the Guji Oromo following the Oromo-led ruling in the country Clashes, killings and displacement[4] 2018 onwards
During Prosperity Party Economic and political upper-hand of the Guji Oromo against Amaro, Gedeao and others in the conflict areas Frustration caused widespread conflict, killings and displacement[4] 2018 onwards
During Prosperity Party The Gedeo-West Guji displacement One million people displaced[4][7] April 2018
During Prosperity Party Attack in Amaro OLF gunmen killed 2 farmers in Amaro[8][9] 29 January 2019
During Prosperity Party Temporary peace offer between the OLF and a Guji regional commander Warring parties include the Amaro and Gadeo communities wth the Guji Oromo that get assistance from the OLF. OLF often collaborates with the federal troops or the Oromo Special Force (OSF)[4][10] January 2021
During Prosperity Party Deadly attack on Amaro-Guji communal leaders 6 people killed during communal leaders meeting in Gelana woreda[1][11] 18 March 2021
During Prosperity Party Instigation of violence by the Guji Oromo militias Violence continued despite peace offering between OLF and a Guji regional commander[4] 2021
During Prosperity Party Aggression of the OLF-Shene OLF-Shene claimed control of some territory in Guji[4] 2021
During Prosperity Party Armed group opened fire during a reconciliation meeting at Gelana, Amaro zone 8 killed, 4 injured. OLF-Shene gunmen reported as suspect[4] 9 March 2021
During Prosperity Party Attack on Amaro 2 farmers killed in the Kore Kebele, in the Amaro Zone by an armed group[4] 29 March 2021
During Prosperity Party Attack on Amaro 1 farmer injured while he was asleep in the Gamule Kebele, in the Amaro Zone by an armed group[4] 30 March 2021
During Prosperity Party Attack on Amaro 1 farmer killed in the Kejalo Kebele in Amaro Zone by armed group[4] 31 March 2021
During Prosperity Party Attack in the conflict areas 11 people killed by militia group from Gelana and Suro Berguda Woreda of West Guji Zone[4] 5-30 March 2021
During Prosperity Party Clash between the Koore and other militias 5 killed, 15 injured. Armed clashes between the Koore militas members and the ENDF government forces with Derashe ethnic militias in Holte kebele in Derashe special woreda, and Buniti, Abulo, and Alfacho kebeles in the Amaro zone[11] June 2022
During Prosperity Party OLF-Shene attacked Amaro 3 Amaro farmers killed, 2 injured, and livestock stolen from 12 farmers [12] 6 July 2022

References

  1. ^ a b "SNNPR: Attacks by armed groups in Jimma Zone's Limmu Kosa Woreda, and Amaro Special Woreda". Ethiopian Human Rights Commission - EHRC. 2021-04-25. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
  2. ^ St, Addis; ard (2021-04-08). "News: Armed men kill 12 civilians, displace more than 11, 000 in Amaro Wereda, SNNP region". Addis Standard. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
  3. ^ Kursha, Kulle (2019-02-28). "Prone Amaro people hope OLF deal ends Guji attacks". Ethiopia Insight. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "West Guji Conflict". Ethiopia Peace Observatory. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
  5. ^ Debelo, Asebe Regassa (December 2012). "Contesting Views on a Protected Area Conservation and Development in Ethiopia". Social Sciences. 1 (1): 24–43. doi:10.3390/socsci1010024. ISSN 2076-0760.
  6. ^ ""BeGuji ena beAmaro gechit ye 13 hiwot tefa"" በጉጂና አማሮ ግጭት የ13 ሕይወት ጠፋ [13 people killed with the Amaro-Guji conflict] (in Amharic). Voice of America. 29 July 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  7. ^ "IOM Identifies 970,000 Displaced People in Ethiopia's Gedeo, West Guji Since April". International Organization for Migration. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
  8. ^ Account (2019-01-29). "OLF gunmen killed two farmers in Amaro, South Ethiopia". Borkena Ethiopian News. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
  9. ^ ""BeDebub kilil Amaro woreda hulet arso aderoch megedelachew tenegere"" በደቡብ ክልል አማሮ ወረዳ ሁለት አርሶ አደሮች መገደላቸው ተነገረ [Two formers killed in the Amaro woreda, the Southern region] (in Amharic). Voice of America. 29 January 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  10. ^ Kursha, Kulle (2019-02-28). "Prone Amaro people hope OLF deal ends Guji attacks". Ethiopia Insight. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
  11. ^ a b "Ethiopia Peace Observatory Weekly: 4 - 10 June 2022 [EN/AM] - Ethiopia". reliefweb.int. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
  12. ^ ""Tatakiwoch Amaro wust sost Sew gedelu"" ታጣቂዎች አማሮ ውስጥ ሦስት ሰው ገደሉ [Armed men killed 3 people in the Amaro zone] (in Amharic). Voice of America. 29 July 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2023.

See also

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