A convoy escorting the President of the Gambella Region encountered a sudden road accident on its
President’s Convoy from Dimma
return journey from Dimma District, after heavy clouds of dust reportedly reduced visibility to nearly zero.
According to officials within the convoy, the incident occurred when one of the lead vehicles lost sight of the road, triggering a chain collision that left several government cars badly damaged.
The first vehicle involved bearing plate number 356 and ordinarily assigned to the Agriculture and Natural Resources Development Bureau veered off the road after the driver became disoriented by the dense dust sweeping across the route.
Moments later, it was struck from behind by another car in the convoy, typically used by the Irrigation and Lowlands Bureau.
Sources close to the convoy confirmed that no deaths or serious injuries were recorded, though several individuals sustained minor injuries. Medical teams accompanying the delegation provided immediate attention at the scene.
However, the impact did not stop with the initial collision. The force of the crash caused disruptions along the line of vehicles, leaving three additional cars severely damaged.
These include a vehicle belonging to the Anti–Corruption Commission, another from the Education Bureau, and the official car of the University President.
All three were forced off the road into nearby bushland due to the extent of the destruction.
While the president’s main vehicle was not affected, the incident raised concerns about road safety conditions in remote areas, particularly the risks posed by unpaved roads where dust storms frequently limit visibility.
Officials say an internal assessment is underway to determine the full extent of the damage and to review convoy safety procedures. Despite the setback, the president and accompanying officials safely resumed their journey after ensuring all injured members received appropriate care.
