Fighting in far western Ethiopia has left at least 21 people dead in several days of violence, an Ethiopian official said on Monday.
Troops moved into Gambella, 400km west of Addis Ababa, over the weekend after seven men were killed, including three government officials and one police officer, a Ministry of Defence spokesperson said. The day after the initial slayings, 14 people were killed and their houses burned in what appears to be a land dispute.
”The army is already involved in restoring stability and order,” the spokesperson said on condition of anonymity. She said an investigation is under way to determine what sparked the violence and to determine who is responsible.
But humanitarian workers in the area said the weekend death toll could reach 100.
Violence in the region has worsened in recent years as ethnic groups compete for valuable land and dispute the others’ right to live in the region. — Sapa-AP