ENDF and OLA killed dozens of Amharas and abducted more than 40 Amharas in East Wollega and North Shewa Zones of Oromia Region in Ethiopia.
The Amhara Association of America (AAA) has verified that between June 13th and June 16, 2023, multiple attacks in Kiremu Woreda (East Wollega Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia) left several people killed and others injured. In addition, on June 17, 2023, dozens of civilians were taken hostage in Ali Doro (North Shewa Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia). Perpetrators of the attacks were units from the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) and the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF).
On the morning of June 17, 2023, several drivers and passengers in Ali Doro (North Shewa Zone, Oromia Region) traveling from Addis Ababa to various parts of Amhara Region (Gojjam and Gonder areas) and vice versa were taken hostage by suspected OLA militia. Based on the information collected from eyewitnesses and other social media sources, OLA militia attacked the road area between 5 am and 8 am and took at least 40 individuals hostage. According to an eyewitness who was near by and knows at least one of the hostages personally the hostage’s phone was working until 8 pm and that the hostages said they were going to an unknown place and that the militants demanded a payment of 500,000 ETB per hostage minimum to release them. In addition to taking the civilians hostage, it was reported that the perpetrators looted properties. Names of five abducted victims were identified by different witnesses and sources as follows:
1. Kefale Tadele
2. Temesgen Ayele
3. Abuye Talema
4. Samuel Metadel
5. Tadesse Shumyie
In addition, Amhara Media Center reported the following Amharas were among
those taken as hostages:
1. Getachew (Getch), Emuye Atnafu and Akalu Mera from Debre-Markos
2. Temesgen Asrie, Abraham Anley and Molla Amanuel from Amanuel;
3. Abiwot Adamu (Gobaw), Addisu Yeshalem, Fasikaw Amare, Dawit Lemineh,
Solomon Maru and Minaye from Addis-Kidam.
4. Widu from Dejen
5. Yihune Belachew from Lumame
6. Ibrahim from Wejel
7. Tsegaye Asnake and Minyelewal Asnake from Gubeya
On the morning of June 16, 2023, an OLA unit led by Jal Mosisa attacked Amharas in Segi and Wofchi Kebeles and killed and injured several Amharas. According to multiple AAA sources, these militants committed the attack with the help of some local government officials and members of the ENDF stationed in the area. On June 15, 2023, in an area called Bajan Kebele, two local militiamen were shot and killed by members of the ENDF. Their names are Ketemaw Admasu (50 years old) and Teshome Alamrew (45 years old). Although they are state-armed local militia with guns, the ENDF killed them for holding a firearm while being an ethnic Amhara. Among the victims killed in these attacks up to June 16, 2023, are:
1. Ketemaw Admasu (local militia, 50 years old)
2. Teshome Alamrew (local militia, 45 years old)
3. Bekalu Biyew
4. Misgie Abate
5. Derese Asnie
6. Abate Kefie
7. Siwedew Sitotaw
Apart from the deceased victims, several others were injured in the attacks. Some of
the names of the injured persons are listed below.
1. Sisay Wonde
2. Yibrie Dejen
3. Sayed Habtamu
4. Fisseha Keyo
5. Melkamu Desalegn
In addition to the civilian casualties, the militants also looted several cattle from the
residents.
On June 13, 2023, in the town of Haro Addisalem, an ethnic Oromo ENDF captain whose name is Dereje Olana, killed an man and his wife who were both ethnic Amharas. The victims were 31 year old Mekuriyaw Getachew Admasu, a medical doctor, and his wife, Yeshalem Abebe who is estimated to be 25 years old. Cpt. Dereje had gone to the couple’s home, entered and opened fired on them, killing both inside. Cpt. Dereje said he killed them in revenge for the husband’s involvement in defending the local Amharas from OLA attacks in the past. Following the couple’s killing, profound public anger broke out in the area. At the time of the update, the leaders of the ENDF deployed in the area managed to calm the public by arresting the suspect and assuring local residents that legal action would be taken against him. Two children survive the late Mekuriyaw Getachew and Yeshalem Abebe.
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