At least 25 people dead and more than 80 others injured following heavy exchanges of gunfire between armed groups and the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) in Ethiopia’s Gambella regional state, APA can report over the weekend.
The clashes have continued since October 13 in Gambella city, the regional capital and surrounding districts, following a renewed violence, movement restrictions and prolonged road closures.
Residents told APA that the violence erupted after members of the public carried the body of a civilian killed on October 13, 2026, to the regional council headquarters to protest rising security breaches across the regional capital.
The demonstration triggered intense gunfire, leading to widespread clashes, the burning of residential homes and commercial properties, and the severe disruption of municipal movement. Residents indicated that similar targeted attacks have recurred across the region since September.
Speaking about the cause of the latest violence, some residents cited the deep-seated inter-communal tensions between Anuak and Nuer groups provoked the violence while others said targeted attacks against non-indigenous residents, including individuals of Amhara background.
Affected populations expressed severe anxiety and confusion over the lack of effective state protection, with many families fleeing their neighborhoods.
The renewed insecurity follows a wider pattern of violence in Gambella that has disrupted essential services and raised concerns over the capacity of regional security structures to contain armed clashes.
In September 2026, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported that at least 12 people died after violence in Itang Special district on 18 September, with Kule Health Centre receiving 88 patients affected by the violence. Thirteen patients were referred to hospitals in Gambella for further treatment.
In response, the Gambella Regional Police Commission declared an indefinite state of emergency and imposed a strict curfew to restore order.
While police officially attributed the violence to unidentified armed elements, local residents expressed skepticism on social platforms, asserting that the perpetrators are known entities operating within the city.
MG/as/APA