Renewed Violence Involving Kemant Amhara Communities Reported in Central Gonder Region
Kemant _ Amhara
Borkena
September 30, 2019
Months after security problems improved with the intervention of the Ethiopian Defense Force and concerted effort from politicians and community members, renewed violence is reported in central Gondar region of Ethiopia which affected ethnic Amhara and ethnic Kemant communities.
The regional government security officers claim that an armed group organized in the name of Kemant opened fire as the region’s special force entered the region.
Chilga zone and the region are affected by the violence which happened over the weekend.
Based on a report on Sunday by the regional state media, AMMA, unspecified number of people were killed and properties damaged.
As was the case in the past, what authorities in Amhara regional state believe to be a political plot to “make the region a war zone” is drawing ethnic Amhara and Kemant communities in the region into conflict.
“Those who attempt to make Amhara region will not succeed. And if there are those who want to come to the region for this mission, we have the capability to defend ourselves,” Teshager Agegnehu who is head of Amhara region’s peace and security building office told AMMA.
He added that the latest string of violence happened as the regional state is working on to resolve issues related to identity and administrative arrangements while emphasizing that it is a manufactured conflict. It is not natural for the two communities to indulge in violence against each other, according to him. The violence is the work of instigators supported by those who are working against peace in the region but he did not name the identities of these groups.
The regional state believes that part of the plan was to block the Methema-Gonder road, links Ethiopia with Sudan, and it seems to be the case that the road is closed at this writing. Agenehu said the road will reopen soon and the security problem in the region will be under control.
It is to be recalled that in January of this year, tens of thousands of people were displaced from the region abandoning their houses as the violence claimed dozens of residents from the region.
Borkena attempted to reach out to those are claiming to be representatives of the Kemant community without success.
Meanwhile, there are emerging reports on social media that a group of people are protesting in Addis Ababa opposing alleged “persecution of Kemant by security forces in Amhara regional state.” It is not confirmed, however, if ethnic-nationalist politicians from outside of the region who seem to be fanning the violence have put together the protest.
Borkena
September 30, 2019
Months after security problems improved with the intervention of the Ethiopian Defense Force and concerted effort from politicians and community members, renewed violence is reported in central Gondar region of Ethiopia which affected ethnic Amhara and ethnic Kemant communities.
The regional government security officers claim that an armed group organized in the name of Kemant opened fire as the region’s special force entered the region.
Chilga zone and the region are affected by the violence which happened over the weekend.
Based on a report on Sunday by the regional state media, AMMA, unspecified number of people were killed and properties damaged.
As was the case in the past, what authorities in Amhara regional state believe to be a political plot to “make the region a war zone” is drawing ethnic Amhara and Kemant communities in the region into conflict.
“Those who attempt to make Amhara region will not succeed. And if there are those who want to come to the region for this mission, we have the capability to defend ourselves,” Teshager Agegnehu who is head of Amhara region’s peace and security building office told AMMA.
He added that the latest string of violence happened as the regional state is working on to resolve issues related to identity and administrative arrangements while emphasizing that it is a manufactured conflict. It is not natural for the two communities to indulge in violence against each other, according to him. The violence is the work of instigators supported by those who are working against peace in the region but he did not name the identities of these groups.
The regional state believes that part of the plan was to block the Methema-Gonder road, links Ethiopia with Sudan, and it seems to be the case that the road is closed at this writing. Agenehu said the road will reopen soon and the security problem in the region will be under control.
It is to be recalled that in January of this year, tens of thousands of people were displaced from the region abandoning their houses as the violence claimed dozens of residents from the region.
Borkena attempted to reach out to those are claiming to be representatives of the Kemant community without success.
Meanwhile, there are emerging reports on social media that a group of people are protesting in Addis Ababa opposing alleged “persecution of Kemant by security forces in Amhara regional state.” It is not confirmed, however, if ethnic-nationalist politicians from outside of the region who seem to be fanning the violence have put together the protest.
No comments:
Post a Comment