About 18 people were killed in violence that erupted in various woredas of the Metekel Zone in Benishangul, as reported by Addis Standard. The clash is said to have been ignited by a fight between a driver and a customer. The driver called the police on the customer, and the officer responded by physically attacking the customer, who happened to be ethnic Sinasha.
According to the report, ethnic Sinasha and Gumuz retaliated by attacking ethnic Amharas and burning houses. The conflict quickly spread to all 30 kebeles in Metekel. Of the victims, 11 were Amharas and seven were Gumuz. In addition, 17 people were injured, and 25 houses were burnt down.
Later, the conflict spread to the Amhara region, resulting in the deaths of more than a dozen people. In Jawi Woreda, ethnic Gumuz and Shinasha were attacked in retaliation for the clashes in Metekel.
According to Addis Standard‘s report on May 3, 2019, dozens of civilians were killed on May 1, 2019, in Jawi Woreda of Benishangul, which borders the Amhara region, in retaliation for the prior attacks in Metekel. Ato Geleta Hailu, the communication and PR head of the Benishangul-Gumuz region, told Addis Standard that gunmen opened fire on unarmed civilians, resulting in the deaths of several dozen people. He did not confirm the exact numbers.
May 3 2019
- Addis Standard April 2019
- Addis Standard May 3 2019
