In a recent development, the largest region in Ethiopia, Oromiya, has accused the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) rebel group of being responsible for the deaths of multiple civilians following the collapse of peace talks in Tanzania.
According to reports from residents, a minimum of 36 individuals lost their lives in assaults on three villages located in Oromiya’s Shirka district on November 24 and 27, carried out by unidentified assailants.
Hailu Adugna, the spokesperson for the Oromiya region, attributed these attacks to the OLA, a faction that emerged from a formerly outlawed opposition party that returned from exile in 2018.
“The terror group is committing brutal acts on civilians because it is now very anxious,” Hailu told the state news agency, adding that properties were also destroyed in the attacks.
As of now, there has been no immediate response from the OLA. Furthermore, Federal government spokesman Legesse Tulu declined to comment on the issue.
Both the federal government and regional authorities in Oromiya have deployed security forces to oust the rebels from their controlled areas, according to Hailu.
These recent assaults transpired shortly after unsuccessful negotiations between the government and the OLA in Tanzania, intended to resolve a longstanding conflict.
Residents reported that on November 24, seventeen people were killed in an attack on one village, with eleven more losing their lives in another village on the same day.
A farmer recounted the devastating loss of seven family members, including his wife and son, in these attacks. Two other children sustained injuries and were undergoing medical treatment, as per the farmer.
“They targeted Orthodox Christians,” the farmer emphasized.
Additionally, in another assault on a third village in the region, eight individuals, including infants, lost their lives, as reported by residents, including a church leader.