Ethnic violence in eastern Ethiopia over the weekend has left at least 40 people dead.
Paramilitary forces in eastern Ethiopia were reported to have carried out the killings, according to a senior regional official.
This is the latest in streak of violence in this part of Ethiopia. Fighting there has already led to many deaths and several other displaced.
On Monday, the Oromiya regional administration’s spokesman Negeri Lencho confirmed the latest violence, according to Reuters.
He said heavily armed members of a paramilitary force from the Somali region carried out cross-border attacks in Oromiya’s East Hararghe district.
“We still do not know why Liyu forces raided the areas on Saturday and Sunday,” he said, referring to the paramilitary soldiers. “But we know that all the victims were ethnic Oromos. At least 40 were killed in the attacks.” Lencho said.
A witness who survived the attack was quoted by the BBC as saying that he faked his death to avoid being killed.
‘‘While we were sleeping they opened the door and killed my wife, son and neighbour’s child [who was sleeping at his house],’’ he added.
Last week Ethiopian soldiers clashed with some of these security forces in a local community in the country’s eastern Somali region.
Ethiopia’s Somali region has witnessed series of violent incidents for decades.
Rebels in the area launched a bid for the secession of the region, also known as Ogaden in 1984.
The government fought the rebel Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) since then.
Source: Africafeeds.com
