At least 19 people were killed and 8 wounded in a surprise attack on a bus. Tensions have been on the rise in Gambella, Ethiopia. There has been much anger at the government as people are evicted from their land that is being sold to wealthy foreigners. The most recent killings took place as calls have increased for the International Criminal Court (ICC) to bring Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to justice for the massacre of over 425 people in Gambella in 2003.
“An atmosphere of terror continues to permeate innocent people in Gambella as crimes of inhumanity against them are so regular that it has become part of their everyday life, changing even the most basic life events such as traveling between towns. Yesterday March 12, a minibus traveling from Godere district to Gambella city was attacked by unknown assailants. 17 people or more were reported killed. It is a hideous act that must be condemned. Details are sketchy at this time. We are trying our best to find out more information. We will keep you post it.” — Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia (SMNE) statement, March 13, 2012
Ethiopia official says gunmen kill 19, wound 8, in bus attack in country’s southwest
By Associated Press
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — An Ethiopian official says unknown gunmen in the country’s southwest have killed 19 people in an attack on a public bus.
The president of Ethiopia’s Gambella region said Tuesday that eight people were wounded.
Omod Obang Olum said the victims were Ethiopian residents traveling in a public bus that got ambushed near a town called Bonga by attackers with machine guns.
He says Gambella security forces are still chasing down the attackers. He said he had no detailed information about the attackers’ objectives.
Gambella is a traditionally marginalized area of the country that suffers internal conflicts over resources like water and land. It also is affected by its border with South Sudan, as refugees pour across into Gambella when violence erupts in that newly independent nation.
