Reports of Exchange of Fire in Ataye, Other Areas in Amhara Region

Ataye _ Ethiopia
Google Satellite map of Ataye region in North Shoa, Ethiopia

Borkena
October 6, 2019

Unidentified gunmen have reportedly opened fire on Saturday in Ataye town in North Shoa zone of Amhara regional state. It is unknown if there are casualties from the incident.

Wazema radio cited Ataye town Mayor, Getachew Bekele, to report on Sunday that Amhara regional state and the Federal Defense Force intervened in the area to restore calm.

Sound of gunfire was heard on Sunday as well according to residents in the town. 

The area where an exchange of gunfire reported is under ethnic Oromo administrative zone within Amhara regional state.

Residents in the region speculate that the latest attempt to trigger violence in the area could be related to the incident that happened in April of this year.

Amhara regional state special forces are deployed in the area since gunmen launched a surprise attack invading the town of Ataye.

There has been a demand from alleged supporters of the gunmen, who are believed to be linked to radical ethnic Oromo nationalists, for the withdrawal of the region’s special force from the area.