Ethiopia’s government said on Saturday that it would take action against those responsible after a video surfaced on social media showing armed men, some wearing military uniforms, burning civilians to death in the country’s west.
According to a statement posted on the Ethiopian Government Communication Service’s Facebook page, the incident occurred in the Ayisid Kebele of Metekel Zone in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, a site of frequent ethnic violence for more than a year in which hundreds of civilians have died.
“A horrific and inhumane act was recently committed… Innocent civilians were burned to death in a series of horrific images circulated on social media,” the statement said.
It did not specify when the events occurred or who was to blame.
“Regardless of their origin or identity, the government will prosecute those responsible for this heinous and inhumane act.”
Reuters was unable to confirm the time and location of the video’s filming, as well as the actions depicted.
Some of the men in the crowd are dressed in Ethiopian military uniforms as well as uniforms from other regional security forces in the video.
Colonel Getnet Adane, a military spokesperson, and Legesse Tulu, a government spokesperson, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The conflict in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, which is home to several ethnic groups, is distinct from the conflict in northern Tigray that erupted in November 2020 between Ethiopian federal forces and rebellious Tigray People’s Liberation Front forces (TPLF)
Source:Reuters
