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AAA Update December 18, 2022: Massacres of Amhara civilians by OSF, OLA and local Qeerro


This report was originally issued on December 18th, 2022 but due to conflicting information regarding names of pictured victims, a revised version was issued on December 23rd, 2022.


Massacres of Amhara civilians perpetrated by the Oromia Special Forces (OSF), Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), and local Qeerro (ultra-nationalist youth) in the East Wollega and Horo Guduru Wollega Zones of the Oromia Region between November 18 and December 8, 2022.


Executive Summary


The latest investigation by the Amhara Association of America (AAA) has revealed evidence of widespread identity-based attacks and human rights violations committed against ethnic Amhara residents in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. AAA’s investigation has found that between November 18 and December 8, 2022, the Oromia Special Forces (OSF), the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), and local Qeerro (ultra-nationalist youth) perpetrated various ethnically motivated attacks on Amhara residents in various woredas in the East Wollega and Horo Guduru Wollega Zones of the Oromia Region. Based on interviews from survivors, victims’ families, and eyewitnesses AAA has verified that as a result of the joint attack by OSF, OLA and local Qeerro:

  • 219 Amhara residents were killed;

  • 107 Amhara residents were severely injured;

  • 40 Amhara residents are missing. These residents were abducted by members of the OSF and OLA in Kiremu town and Haro Kebele of Kiremu Woreda (East Wollega Zone). Relatives of these residents believe they were executed by the OSF and OLA;

  • 62 Amhara residents are arbitrarily detained. These residents were arrested by federal and Oromia Regional security officials in Anger Gutin town (Gida Ayana Woreda, East Wollega Zone) and Addis Ababa.

  • More than 25,000 Amhara residents have been displaced from Horo Guduru Wollega and East Wollega Zones of the Oromia Region. The number is expected to be far greater as there a considerable size of Amhara residents currently hiding in neighboring jungles, and Hundreds of millions of ETB worth of property belonging to Amhara residents was looted, destroyed and burned down.

Introduction


The Amhara Genocide in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia has continued with increasing intensity with the regional government led Oromia Special Forces (OSF), the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), the local police, and Qeerro (ultra-nationalist Oromo youth) all taking direct part in the massacres. Since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power in 2018, thousands of ethnic Amhara residents have been massacred and injured as a result of ethnically targeted attacks. Millions of Amhara residents have been displaced, and property belonging to Amharas with an estimated worth in the billions of ETB, including homes, businesses, livestock, and crops have been looted, burned, and destroyed in various parts of the Oromia Region. Most of these attacks were carried out by OLA militants in collaboration with the local Qeerro, and some local officials.



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