ESAT News (February 02, 2016)
Reliable sources in Gambella, Ethiopia told ESAT that the number of people being killed in the conflict between the Nuers and Anuak in Gambella is on the rise. The sources said over 10 people were killed on average on both sides every day since the recent crises began two weeks ago. The killings were reported in Gambella town, Abol, Belere, Etang, Betrifam, Pignang, Abobo, Alero and other localities including refugee shelters.
The Gambella region has been under the control of federal armed and security forces since Saturday. Sources say the head of security for the regime in Addis, Getachew Asefa and senior military commanders are in Gambella.
Two Nuers were killed today by the Agazi Forces, a special kill squad of the regime, while five other Nuers, who are members of the local force were killed by the Anuaks, according to the sources. The number of dead today on the Anuak side is not yet known as people were still searching the area to identify bodies. In Etang, Agazi force today killed two Nuers who reportedly refused to disarm.
In the town of Gambella, the Nuers and the Anuaks have now settled on each side of the Baro River. The Nuers took the side of the river called Newland, while the Anuaks have settled on the other side. Any journey to other side of the river by a member of either group would have a deadly consequence, sources told ESAT. The situation is similar in other localities, it was learnt.
The regional president and his deputy were taken to custody and the region is now under the command of the Agazi forces.
Eyewitnesses said the flag of South Sudan is seen flying high on the Nuer side of Newland. Close observers of the developments in Gambella said the Ethiopian government, in the last ten years, has allowed the Nuers to migrate from Sudan in thousands and dominate the Anuaks. The ethnocentric regime in Ethiopia believes the Anuaks do not support its divisive policies, hence let the Nuers, the new comers from Sudan, take the political upper hand in Gambella, according to the observers. The Anuaks object the looting of vast land in the region by members and supporters of the ruling Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). Gambella is one of the regions where the corrupt regime plunder huge tracts of land, displacing the indigenous people. The government had initiated the conflict between the two groups in a bid to take control of the region but its strategy fell apart, the observers said and added that its attempt to resolve the issue militarily would not work either.
The recent violence was sparked two weeks ago by the shooting of the driver of the regional president, who is an Anuak. He was in a land dispute with the dean of the college, a Nuer.
According to sources in Gambella, armed militia lead by Riek Machar, a group opposing South Sudan’s Salva Kiir government, which is operating from Gambella, has been involved in the ethnic violence. The Ethiopian government is accused of arming and supporting Reik Machar’s militia, who are ethnically Nuers. Director of Survival International, Nykaw Ochala accused soldiers and migrants from South Sudan, who are Nuers, for fueling the ethnic violence. He accused the Ethiopian government of arming Machar’s militia and Sudanese migrants, who got weapons at their disposals to carry out the attacks against the Anuaks.
Reliable sources in Gambella, Ethiopia told ESAT that the number of people being killed in the conflict between the Nuers and Anuak in Gambella is on the rise. The sources said over 10 people were killed on average on both sides every day since the recent crises began two weeks ago. The killings were reported in Gambella town, Abol, Belere, Etang, Betrifam, Pignang, Abobo, Alero and other localities including refugee shelters.
The Gambella region has been under the control of federal armed and security forces since Saturday. Sources say the head of security for the regime in Addis, Getachew Asefa and senior military commanders are in Gambella.
Two Nuers were killed today by the Agazi Forces, a special kill squad of the regime, while five other Nuers, who are members of the local force were killed by the Anuaks, according to the sources. The number of dead today on the Anuak side is not yet known as people were still searching the area to identify bodies. In Etang, Agazi force today killed two Nuers who reportedly refused to disarm.
In the town of Gambella, the Nuers and the Anuaks have now settled on each side of the Baro River. The Nuers took the side of the river called Newland, while the Anuaks have settled on the other side. Any journey to other side of the river by a member of either group would have a deadly consequence, sources told ESAT. The situation is similar in other localities, it was learnt.
The regional president and his deputy were taken to custody and the region is now under the command of the Agazi forces.
Eyewitnesses said the flag of South Sudan is seen flying high on the Nuer side of Newland. Close observers of the developments in Gambella said the Ethiopian government, in the last ten years, has allowed the Nuers to migrate from Sudan in thousands and dominate the Anuaks. The ethnocentric regime in Ethiopia believes the Anuaks do not support its divisive policies, hence let the Nuers, the new comers from Sudan, take the political upper hand in Gambella, according to the observers. The Anuaks object the looting of vast land in the region by members and supporters of the ruling Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). Gambella is one of the regions where the corrupt regime plunder huge tracts of land, displacing the indigenous people. The government had initiated the conflict between the two groups in a bid to take control of the region but its strategy fell apart, the observers said and added that its attempt to resolve the issue militarily would not work either.
The recent violence was sparked two weeks ago by the shooting of the driver of the regional president, who is an Anuak. He was in a land dispute with the dean of the college, a Nuer.
According to sources in Gambella, armed militia lead by Riek Machar, a group opposing South Sudan’s Salva Kiir government, which is operating from Gambella, has been involved in the ethnic violence. The Ethiopian government is accused of arming and supporting Reik Machar’s militia, who are ethnically Nuers. Director of Survival International, Nykaw Ochala accused soldiers and migrants from South Sudan, who are Nuers, for fueling the ethnic violence. He accused the Ethiopian government of arming Machar’s militia and Sudanese migrants, who got weapons at their disposals to carry out the attacks against the Anuaks.
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