Armed men ambushed a public bus, killing at least 20 people on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, in the Benishangul Gumuz region, according to a report by BBC Amharic, which quoted an anonymous regional official. The bus was traveling from Metekel to Guba when it came under attack by armed individuals.
The official stated that “anti-peace” forces, crossing from Sudan’s border, were responsible for the attack. He mentioned that similar attacks had been carried out by these forces in the past. The official did not provide specific details about the victims to the Reporter, but he noted that many people from different parts of the country use this route. Following the incident, the regional forces have taken measures to ensure control and security in the area.
The report highlighted the alarming situation in the region, where armed groups have killed hundreds of civilians and displaced thousands in recent years. Consequently, the region has been under the command post for the past two years. The region consists of Kamashi, Metekel, and Asossa zones, with Metekel being the largest zone and encompassing seven woredas. One of the woredas, Guba, is where the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is located. Bulen, Dibate, Wonbera, Pawe, Dangur, and Mandura woredas in the Metekel zone have experienced recurring episodes of violence. Although Kamashi is relatively better in terms of security, the civilians there have also suffered from the effects of the conflict.
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