Subject: The Anyuak have Killed Three Innocent Highlanders (Amhara, Guraghe, Kambatas, Oromo or Tigreans) in a Minibus on Saturday, 04/04/2026 or 26/07/2018 but now have shifted the Blame to the Nuer Refugees who live in vicinity to Abol, the graveyard of the Nuer and other communities.
Dear Prime Minister,
We hope this letter finds you well and in good health as you continue to serve the people of our great nation, Ethiopia.
We write once again to respectfully draw your urgent attention to ongoing and serious security concerns in the Gambella National Regional State.
Over time, we have submitted multiple communications to your office regarding the situation in Gambella. Unfortunately, we remain deeply concerned that the current approach such as conferences, community gatherings, and dialogue initiatives have not resulted in lasting peace or security for all communities in the region.
Violence continues to occur with alarming frequency, and loss of life has become distressingly common. Incidents affecting civilians including women, children, and vulnerable individuals have created fear and instability among residents.
Most recently, only 5 days after a large conference attended by federal representatives from Addis Ababa, another tragic incident occurred. A group of Prosperity Party members from Nuer ethnic group was traveling to the Nuer Zone for election-related activities. As the Anyuak are hunting Nuer in the region like animal safari, a passenger minibus in front of the Nuer Bus was mistaken for the bus carrying the Nuer and was attacked.
The Occupants in that bus were Highlanders or Abesha (Amhara, Oromos, Tigray or Light Skinned people in general). Many people in the region believed it to be a mistaken identity for the Nuer bus on the rear.
One of the refugees the Anyuak collected from the forest as responsible from bus attack. This is erosion of justice
All these buses were passing through Abol, an area that has seen repeated violence in the past dubbed as the graveyard for the Nuer and other communities. The attack resulted in casualties of the Highlanders (Amhara, Oromo or any light skinned person as the Indigenous call them). Three people lost their lives and seven sustained serious injuries.
In the aftermath, the Anyuak have feel ashamed, guilt and embarrassed of the turn of events. We saw in their social media saying that it was Nuer who attacked the bus just because they afraid of the reprisal or legal accountability as the killing of the Abesha won’t be like the killing of the Nuer they do everyday without accountability.
On this situation, concerns have been raised about the arrest of individuals from the Nuer refugee community who were not involved in the incident. So you know the place of the attack was a dozen kilometers away from Nguanyiel, a refugee camp where the Anyuak went and brought these refugees as suspects.
The picture on the left is one of the individuals arrested by the Anyuak. This is a serious crime which is as bad as killing of the people in the bus it self. The individuals were detained while collecting firewood in the forest close to the refugee camp where they live.
They are being held as scapegoats by the Anyuak out of embarrassment, shame and a possible retaliation from the Highlander community. Gambella is the most lawless state and the bloodied region in Ethiopia. The Anyuak leadership does whatever it feel like it to kill and when things don’t go as planned for them erode facts and implant lies.
They are known for such behaviour. There was a similar incident in the past in 2024 where members of the Oromo Community who were just none combatants were rounded up and killed by the Anyuak gun men at the time when Gambella town was attacked by the OLF and GLF fighters combined.Some of these killings happened at the back of the Police Commission Building commiited by members of Gambella Police Force and Special Force officers from the Anyuak ethnic group. Videos were there and these were verified as some of them are serving jail time for that in Addis Ababa.
When the families of those who were killed sought justice, the regional government at the time attributed responsibility to a Nuer officer who was serving as Deputy Police Commissioner. Howe
Tulit Khor, former Deputy Police Commissioner serving life in jail for Anyuak crimes
ver, there were serious concerns regarding this accusation, as reports indicate that the individual was not even in Gambella at the time of the incident. Additionally, available video evidence reportedly captured individuals speaking in the Anyuak language, raising further questions about the accuracy of the claims.
Despite these inconsistencies, the former Deputy Police Commissioner, Tulit Khor, was arrested and now is currently serving a life sentence in Addis Ababa for crimes that he did not commit.
This has deepened concerns about due process, fairness, and the integrity of investigations. When they leave the real criminals unchecked, there is a potential for these criminals to strike again. This shows the Anyuak are not governing for the interest of all communities of Gambella but for the interest of their community only.
Another incident where Anyuak kill people and blame it on others was on October 16, 2025. A serious incident occurred when a passenger bus came
A poor man who depend on manual work was rounded up by Anyuak as a suspect of the bus attack that they themselves did.
under attack again in Abol town. A Nuer police officer who was escorting the bus was killed, and two Anyuak passengers were wounded. The Anyuak killers did not know an Anyuak passenger would be in the bus as this road is mainly used by the Nuer and Abesha. Anyuak abandoned using it on security ground as they attack randomly without stopping the vehicle first.
Following the incident, responsibility was reportedly attributed to members of the Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF). However, this claim has also been contested.
Subsequently, individuals with no apparent connection to the attack including civilians reportedly engaged in labour work activities in the forest were arrested. There were concerns that these individuals may have been wrongly accused, as there was no clear evidence linking them to either the ENDF or the incident itself.
Perjury of Justice is a Serious Crime.
The ongoing miscarriage of justice in Gambella is not affecting only the Nuer; it is increasingly impacting multiple groups across the region. This trend is deeply concerning and risks further destabilizing a region that was once known for its agricultural potential and peaceful coexistence. Now Gambella has become a bloodbath in Ethiopia.
We respectfully submit that the current situation requires urgent and decisive action to prevent further loss of life and restore public trust in government institutions.
In light of the recent incident involving the arrest of innocent refugees, we urge your office to:
- Conduct an independent and transparent investigation into the arrests of the Nuer refugees, and ensure that any individuals detained without credible evidence are released immediately;
- Hold the Regional Police Commission accountable by requiring clear, evidence-based justification for the accusations made, and ensure that investigative procedures meet legal standards;
- Establish impartial mechanisms to investigate past and present incidents of violence, ensuring that responsibility is determined based on facts rather than assumptions or group identity;
- Guarantee the protection of all communities in Gambella, including refugees and minorities, in accordance with national and international human rights obligations.
Furthermore, we respectfully ask your office to carefully assess the current regional leadership and its ability to effectively manage the security situation. Where leadership failures are contributing to ongoing instability, appropriate changes should be considered in order to restore confidence, accountability, and peace.
We believe that without decisive intervention, the cycle of violence and mistrust will continue. However, with firm, fair, and transparent action, it is possible to restore stability and ensure justice for all communities in Gambella.
Concerns Regarding Leadership and Accountability
We are deeply concerned about the current regional leadership’s ability to effectively address the ongoing security and justice challenges in Gambella.
There are serious allegations that individuals previously implicated in acts of violence have been released without transparent legal justification, and that due process has not been consistently upheld. Such actions undermine public trust in the justice system and may contribute to a climate of impunity.
In addition, there are growing concerns about the removal or detention of Nuer political figures who have raised security concerns or advocated for the protection of their communities. These developments risk creating fear where public officials may feel unable to speak openly or act in the interest of peace and security.
Reports also suggest that some community representatives now fear repercussions—including loss of position or legal action for expressing legitimate concerns. This environment may hinder constructive dialogue and weaken efforts to prevent further violence.
We respectfully urge your office to:
- Review the actions of the current regional leadership to ensure that they align with principles of justice, accountability, and equal protection under the law;
- Ensure that no individual is detained, removed from office, or prosecuted without clear and credible legal grounds;
- Promote an inclusive governance approach that represents and protects all communities in Gambella;
- Take appropriate measures, where necessary, to restore confidence in regional leadership and ensure effective, impartial administration.
We believe that strong, fair, and accountable leadership is essential to ending the cycle of violence and restoring lasting peace in Gambella.
More recently, similar patterns appear to be emerging, with allegations that members of the Nuer community are being blamed for incidents without sufficient evidence. This has contributed to a growing perception among affected communities that accountability is inconsistent and that innocent individuals may be targeted in place of those responsible.
Such practices risk further eroding trust between communities and institutions, and may contribute to cycles of grievance and instability.
We respectfully urge that all allegations be handled with impartiality, supported by credible evidence, and subject to transparent legal processes to ensure justice for victims and protection for the innocents.
This letter was prepared by Gambella Peace Initiative Members from Western World.
