Gambela conflict
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The Gambela conflict refers to sporadic conflicts in the Gambela Region of Ethiopia between armed groups of the indigenous Anuak people with armed groups of the Nuer people, and the Ethiopian military.[1] Following resettlement policies implemented by the Derg regime in the 1980s, a number of ethnic conflicts have taken place between the Anuak people indigenous to much of the Gambela region, and other groups which were resettled in the region.[1] Following the collapse of the Derg regime, persistent ethnic tensions in the region have occasionally exploded into open conflict.[1] Such conflict erupted in the early to mid 2000s, coinciding with an increase in petroleum extraction in the region, and led to a number of incidents resulting in the large-scale deaths of civilians.[1] The Ethiopian military has intervened to combat Anuak militias.[1]
Anuak activists have claimed that ethnic Anuaks in Ethiopia have suffered from torture, indiscriminate killings, looting, and discrimination from various other minority militias operating in the country, as well as from the Ethiopian government itself.[2][3][4] The Ethiopian government has denied that its military was involved in attacks on Anuaks, and instead attributed violence in the region to local ethnic militias.[5] Others have alleged that Anuak militias have committed human rights abuses against other groups, such as killing Nuer civilians.[6][7]
Background
The
Issues
The Anuaks have many neighbor ethnic groups including the Ajiebo Murle, Nuer, Dhuok Suri, the Oromo, and Amhara (the highlanders). Their relationship with other ethnic groups is usually hostile and violent, especially with the Nuer who have pushed them to the east.[9] There are many natural resources in western Ethiopia and adding more fuel to the violence is the more than eight languages spoken by other groups around the Anuak land.[10]
Militant activities
After the EPRDF government came to power in 1991 it ruled the area through local parties, but real power was still in the hands of the local highlanders. And ethnic conflicts occur between the highlanders and the Anuaks, sometimes bringing in the Nuers as well.[11] These ethnic problems began in the 1980s - when the previous Derg government used forced resettlement to bring about 50,000 people from Ethiopia's exhausted central highlands suffering drought to the fertile, but swampy, malaria-infested Gambella region where the Anuaks and Nuers live.[12] The Anuak rebels also attack miners and economic development workers in Gambela. In 2004 the militants killed three government refugee workers and attacked a United Nations vehicle.[13]
In October, 2005 Anuak rebels attacked four police officers and prison wardens. Along with this attack the Anuak militants targeted the police station and prison to free many jailed rebel fighters.[14] They also wounded six other men and murdered the Gambella Regional police commissioner.[15]
Attacks on Nuers
Nuer are mostly refugees that moved east away from the Sudanese civil wars and sheltered in Ethiopia for several decades. They number in thousands and live in the
In June 2006, Anuak militants attacked a bus travelling from Addis Ababa to Gambela and killed fourteen passengers. Around 40 more people were injured and wounded in the attack.[18]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e "Ethiopia: Targeting the Anuak: Background and Context". Human Rights Watch. 2005. Archived from the original on 2022-08-08. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
- ^ Frommer, Fred; Lohn, Martiga (2008-05-30). "Exiled Anuak prepare to confront Ethiopian official in Minn". Minnesota Public Radio. Archived from the original on 2019-02-15. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
- ^ "About Us". Anuak Justice Council. Archived from the original on 2022-10-03. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
- ^ Ochalla, Nyikaw (2002-07-16). "Ethnic cleansing and genocide against the Anuak in Gambela state, Ethiopia". www.ethiomedia.com. Archived from the original on 2016-07-21. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
- ^ "Ethiopian army 'kills 20 rebels'". BBC. 2004-05-18. Archived from the original on 2022-09-05. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
- ^ Gatwech, Lunyjock (2002-10-07). "Genocide on the Nuer continues, Nykaw adds insults to injury". www.ethiopiafirst.com. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
- ^ Henshaw, Amber (2006-06-12). "Passengers die in Ethiopia ambush". BBC. Archived from the original on 2020-01-11. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
- ^ Location of Anuaks Archived October 10, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Anuak relationship with other groups". Archived from the original on 2007-02-16. Retrieved 2006-11-29.
- ^ Languages west Ethiopia
- ^ Highlanders and Anuaks
- ^ 1980s resettlement
- ^ United Nations staff attacked
- ^ Anuak rebel attack church and police
- ^ Anuak rebels kill state Commissioner
- ^ Anuak militants
- ^ "Anuak rebels killing Nuers". Archived from the original on 2006-11-11. Retrieved 2006-11-29.
- ^ Anuak rebels attack a passenger bus