APA-Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) Deadly clashes between the two majority ethnic groups in Ethiopia’s Gambella regional state has left at least 30 people dead and several others wounded.
Eyewitnesses told APA Thursdays that the conflict between Nuer and Anyuak communities began on Tuesday after a university student of Anyuak ethnic group was allegedly killed by members of Nuer communities.
According to the eyewitnesses at least 30 people have been killed on both sides which constitute the first and second largest ethnic groups in the Gambella regional state of Ethiopia.
The eyewitnesses told APA that sporadic conflicts have been occurring since the Nuer communities began to settle in the regional capital, Gambella where large numbers of Anyuak communities have been living for decades.
“Following the killing of the university student, the Anyuak communities attempted to dislodge the Nuer communities by force and that led to full-fledged clashes and exchange of fires until Thursday,” said the eyewitnesses.
The eyewitnesses said the Anyuak communities urged the Nuer to leave the area but the Nuer communities insisted that the controversial area belongs to them.
Government offices, banks and other offices have been closed since the clashes erupted last late Tuesday amid disruption of transport services. Federal troops have been deployed since late Thursday.
MG/abj/APA