The Oromo Liberation Front Intensifies Abductions: Civilians Seized on Route from Amhara to Addis Ababa
On August 29th, a passenger bus traveling from the Amhara Region to Addis Ababa was ambushed by militants from the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) near the border between Gebre Guracha and Tulu Melki Woredas in the North Shewa Zone of the Oromia Region. All passengers on board were abducted in the latest incident of escalating violence and kidnappings in the area.
On August 29th, a passenger bus traveling from the Amhara Region to Addis Ababa was ambushed by militants from the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) near the border between Gebre Guracha and Tulu Melki Woredas in the North Shewa Zone of the Oromia Region. All passengers on board were abducted in the latest incident of escalating violence and kidnappings in the area.
This attack follows a pattern of increasing abductions in the region, including the high-profile kidnapping of 167 Amhara University students near Garba Guracha town, also in North Shewa. The students, who were later released, recounted harrowing experiences of violence at the hands of their captors. These kidnappings have sparked widespread condemnation, with the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa issuing a strong statement against the surge in abductions for ransom in Oromia, saying, “Abductions of civilians and students for financial gain must stop.”
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) highlighted the growing threat of kidnappings in its 3rd Annual Human Rights Situation Report, noting a significant rise in such incidents in Oromia. The commission has expressed deep concern over the safety of civilians, particularly those traveling through areas where OLA militants are active.
Despite these warnings, the Ethiopian government has been criticized for its reluctance to take decisive action to secure the safety of those in conflict-affected areas. Reports indicate that Oromia regional officials have been slow to respond, further exacerbating the insecurity in the region. This lack of action has fueled frustration among communities who feel abandoned by the authorities.
This incident is reminiscent of a related event in November 2019, when 17 Amhara students, mostly female, were kidnapped from Dembidollo University in western Ethiopia. The students were targeted based on their ethnicity and forcibly taken while traveling home after ethnic tensions made it unsafe for them to continue their education. Their whereabouts remain unknown to this day, sparking ongoing criticism that the government has not done enough to secure their release. The failure to address these kidnappings has cast a shadow over the government’s ability to protect its citizens, particularly in regions plagued by ethnic and political violence.
EAR Editorial Note :
This news story is sourced from WAZEMA Radio : https://x.com/Wazemaradio/status/1829149995473481790
