Two men from the Nuer community were killed last night in Makhot, a kebele in Itang Special Woreda. According to local sources, the attackers are believed to be individuals from the Anyuak community.
The victims were reportedly asleep in their tents along the Baro River near Kechtual, close to Wale, when the attack occurred. These riverbank villages may be known by different names in the Anyuak language. The men had been working in nearby maize fields during this current cultivation season.
The incident comes less than a week after the Federal Minister for Peace, Mohamed Edris, visited Gambella. It also follows an earlier attack, more than two weeks ago, in which several Nuer passengers were killed in a bus incident attributed by residents to criminal elements linked to the Anyuak community. No suspects have yet been apprehended in either case.
Community members report that, since the start of President Alemitu’s administration, the number of Nuer individuals killed in violent incidents has reached 38. They express concern that the lack of arrests or accountability is contributing to a sense of insecurity and impunity. Local leaders argue that all communities in Gambella are entitled to equal protection under the law.
Residents also state that Makhot Kebele has faced repeated security challenges involving criminal actors from surrounding areas. During the tenure of former regional president Ato Omot Ojulu, the kebele reportedly experienced multiple attacks involving groups from Itang Woreda. Some community sources allege that elements of the Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF) became involved in clashes, resulting in civilian casualties. These claims reflect longstanding local grievances and remain matters of public concern and debate.
These events have been particularly distressing for community members who note that the Nuer have historically contributed significantly to national defence institutions, including the ENDF and senior leadership roles.
This article was written by Pam Chuol Joack, an expert on Gambella affairs.
