At least 18 civilians were killed and several others wounded in an attack by gunmen in Gilgel town, Benishangul-Gumuz, on Friday, July 7, 2025, as reported by BBC Amharic.
Eyewitnesses told the BBC that the attackers were from a nearby camp housing former fighters who had reportedly surrendered their weapons after a recent peace deal with the government. The Bode Democratic Party also confirmed that an armed group affiliated with the Gumuz People’s Democratic Movement was responsible for the attack on civilians.
According to eyewitness reports, members of the Gumuz People’s Democratic Movement are frequently seen in town carrying heavy weaponry and sometimes acting with the authority of the government.
This group has been involved in repeated violent incidents in the past, resulting in numerous deaths and displacements. While the situation had appeared to improve following a government agreement with the group and the partial disarmament of its members, the latest attack marks a return to violence.
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