The November 5, 2023 Mesno massacre of Amhara civilians by Oromo militants
The Amhara Association of America (AAA) has verified that on November 5, 2023, Oromo militants from the Oromo Special Zone (Amhara Region, Ethiopia) massacred at least 34 Amhara civilians and injured an additional 52 civilians in Mesno Kebele of Antsokia Gemza Woreda in North Shewa Zone (Amhara Region, Ethiopia). The death toll is expected to increase as many wounded victims sustained life-threatening injuries with little hope for survival. In addition, the militants carried out large-scale burning of the teff harvest in the kebele. Twenty-two of the victims were from Mesno Kola village of the kebele, twelve of them were Christians buried in St. Michael Church’s graveyard located there and six were buried in the Muslim cemetery of the kebele. Three of the victims were from Hageremariam village buried in St. Mary church’s graveyard and 9 were from Chancho village in the Kebele.
Regarding the events leading up to the massacre, on November 4, 2023, the Oromo militants unleash their cattle herd into teff harvests of the Amhara farmers. The next day, the Oromo militants had made preparations and took positions and opened automatic fire on the Amhara farmers who were trying to protect their teff harvest from being consumed by the cattle herd of the Oromos.
Survivors told AAA that men wearing Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) uniforms and carrying army identification cards joined the Oromo militants in the attack. Throughout the attack on the Amhara farmers which lasted hours, the ENDF units encamped in the nearby Majete and Mekoy towns (North Shewa Zone) failed to protect them. Instead, they intervened when the Amhara farmers began defending themselves and pushing back the Oromo militants.
Below is a list of 31 of the deceased victims killed by the Oromo militants on November 5, 2023, in Mesno Kebele of Antsokia Gemza Woreda (North Shewa Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia). ... Please see the PDF.
