Let us not kid ourselves. Gambella has witnessed more bloodshed under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed than under any other leader in Ethiopia’s hist

Prime Minister has big role in Gambella Blood

. Even during the Red Terror era, when Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam was labelled the ‘Butcher of Ethiopia,’ Gambella never experienced such suffering and agony.”

What is even worse is that the perpetrators of the organised violence are sponsored by the very state that is supposed to protect its people.

In its pursuit of creating a hegemonic state exclusively for the Anyuak, the Gambella National Regional State Government has normalised the killing of Nuer and other non-Anyuak people, with no consequences for those responsible.”.

Today, a young man from the Nuer ethnic group became another victim of violence in Itang Special Woreda. He and many others were lured into town under the belief that there was a semblance of peace before being killed by members of the Anyuak community.

Last week, four people were reportedly killed—one was an Abesha (a term commonly used to refer to Ethiopian highlanders), and three others were Anyuak individuals. The three Anyuak victims may have been killed by members of their own community in what some Nuer observers believe was a case of mistaken identity.

The Abesha people (Highlanders including Oromo, Amhara,  Tigrayan, as well as other light-skinned Ethiopians) have become targets of violence alongside members of the Nuer community.

“What brought the Prime Minister into this discussion is his lack of attention to the situation in Gambella.

Many people in Gambella, including members of the Nuer and Abesha (Highlander) communities sent messages to the Prime Minister’s office expressing concern that Alemitu was unable to effectively address the unrest and insecurity in the region.

“Therefore, better leadership that will not tolerate violence or protect those responsible for criminal acts is needed to restore peace and establish law and order.”

Never the less, the Prime Minister has turned a deaf ear to the suffering experienced by the people of Gambella. Rather than taking more decisive action, all he does has been sending federal government officials to observe the situation and advise the Gambella regional leadership on maintaining peace and stabilise the state.

On the contrary, it is alleged that when federal government agencies or delegates visit Gambella on security-related missions, they are improperly influenced through the misuse of state resources.

Alemitu and her predecessor, Omot Ojulu, use government funds and other state resources to bribe delegates sent by the Prime Minister, resulting in personal financial gain for those officials.

If this allegation are true, then you do not need to be a rocket scientist to understand  why there has been no change in the leadership or improvement in the situation on the ground.

Those responsible for the ongoing killings are being protected or allowed to operate without consequences by state authorities, while the federal government—which has greater responsibility for national security—has failed to take stronger action to address the situation.

Whenever there is a change in leadership, such as when Omot Ojulu was removed from office after so many Nuer were killed, the same political system continues, with power remaining concentrated among Anyuak elites.

In this sense, it is ‘the same horse with a different jockey,’ meaning that although leaders change, the situation on the ground remains the same. The killings on Nuer ethnic group under Alemitu’s reign exacerbated. There has rarely been a month without reports of Nuer people being killed in attacks allegedly carried out by members of the Anyuak community

The Nuer communities continuing to suffer losses on a regular basis. Many Nuer people have died under Alemitu’s leadership than during the administration of former President Omot Ojulu. At the same token, many Nuer have died in the hands of Anyuak under the Prime Minister, Abiy than those who died under Melese, Mengistu and Menelik combined.

But more recently, the violence has expanded to affect other communities as well. The Abesha community, including Oromos—the ethnic group from which the Prime Minister comes are now experiencing the effects of the violence in Gambella.

This began in May when a minibus travelling between Tharpaam and Abol destined for Lare Woreda was  ambushed after allegedly being mistaken for a Nuer vehicle.

Four teachers based in Kuergeng High School in Lare Woreda were killed forcing the school to close as replacements could not be found while four other teachers sustained serious injuries. All the injured and casualties were Abesha (Highlanders).

These incidents could have been avoided if the Prime Minister had acted decisively and responded to the concerns and suffering expressed by the Nuer community early on in 2023 G.C. as changing the regional leadership to a Nuer leader is the only viable option to help bring peace and stability in Gambella.

Sending delegates from Addis Ababa has not resolved the situation and has instead allegedly allowed misuse of Gambella’s resources because local leaders , the Anyuak in this instance, have hidden agenda, prohibiting them to address criminal activities effectively.

Gambella needs leadership that understands the rule of law, holds people accountable, and treats all communities equally.” The Anyuak are for hegemonic Gambella and sadly,  such an individual may be difficult to find within the Anyuak community.

Any Anyuak who acts differently from the prevailing political expectations or ways of thinking faces serious consequences. Gambella first President, Agua Alemu was killed for holding a view that accepted all ethnic communities of Gambella.

Very recently, late President, Omot Obang ran for his life to the Philippines after trying to ensure justice and accountability for all in Gambella.

“The Prime Minister should distance himself from not only from those who were accused of violence but even those who harbour it and avoid guilt by association.

Individuals responsible for insecurity do not represent the principles of good governance or the rule of law. Let alone the organised violence by these anarchy thugs, Gambella’s infrastructure challenge is enough to make Alemitu and her administration look for jobs elsewhere.

The roads are in appalling condition evidenced of what many describe as poor development in Gambella compared with other regions of Ethiopia. The roads in Gambella’s capital are significantly worse than roads in many zonal towns in regions such as Afar, Amhara, Benishangul Gumuz, Oromia, Sidama, Somali and so on.

There has been little noticeable development since Gatluak Tut left the power, an Ethnic Nuer who transformed Gambella infrastructure.

Gambella roads are being covered with dust and damaged by large potholes that create serious challenges for residents and motorists. In countries with stronger accountability systems, a transport authority responsible for such poor road conditions could face serious legal and financial consequences, including compensation claims for people injured or killed and vehicles damaged because of unsafe roads.”

The Gambella regional leadership lacks sufficient justification to remain in power, even without considering the issue of killings. The scale of organised violence, which has contributed to widespread insecurity, together with persistent infrastructural challenges, has significantly undermined confidence in the regional administration. From this perspective, the severity of these problems has raised serious questions about the continued leadership of Regional President Alemitu.

Yet, many argue that Alemitu has defied political expectations by remaining in power with the support of the Prime Minister, biy Ahmend, despite ongoing concerns over insecurity and governance in the region.

The federal government has become increasingly disconnected from the challenges and hardships facing the people of Gambella. Her administration has seen no improvements in areas such as construction, road networks, and regional security. But the Prime Minister is failing to recognise these ongoing leadership shortcomings and challenges in Gambella.

Many Anyuak political leaders have failed to bring meaningful change attributed to cultural factors, which is a broad generalisation. Political decisions and failures are more accurately examined by looking at specific leaders, institutions, policies, and circumstances.

Many Anyuak political leaders have failed to bring meaningful change and this is mainly attributed to cultural factors. An example of this refers to an incident involving an Abesha truck driver who allegedly struck and killed an Anyuak man after a brake failure.

The Anyuak youth who were present at the scene killed the driver and set the vehicle on fire. This caused anger among Nuer and Abesha communities in Gambella, who believed that an accidental incident did not justify such a violent response and that the driver should not have lost his life.

Referring to comments on the GCI Facebook page following reports of the truck driver’s death, overwhelming commenters from Anyuak defended the actions of the youth involved and questioned how others would have responded if the victim of the accident had been Nuer or Abesha?

Many Nuer people have also died in similar accidents or through alleged attacks involving Abesha or other Highlander individuals, but that Nuer community  does not generally respond by taking justice into their own hands.

Traffic incidents and criminal matters should be handled through established institutions, such as the Gambella Traffic Police for road-related issues and the Gambella Police for homicide and other criminal investigations.

This diverse sentiment among communities in relation to law enforcement proves that Alemitu or Anyuaks in generals are not fit to lead a diverse society like Gambella. Many reasons are always there to back that such as the alleged killings involving an ambulance and a double-cabin vehicle in Abol in December last year.

Alemitu protected the Abol Police Chief, Bare Agua, from arrest and investigation despite ample evidence from a survivor who was an ex duty police officer travelling from Lare to Gambella but their vehicles were stopped in Abol at gun point by Bare and his thugs where four people lost their lives.

The victim provided a statement to the Gambella Police Department alleging that Bare Agua was involved in the killings. Alemitu opposed his interrogation arguing that the incident was connected to Anyuak grievances.

Asked about the nature of those grievances by one of the Nuer Member of the Gambella Parliament, Alemitu referred to disputes involving Nuer communities in areas such as Makot, Puldeng, and Itang.

Looking at her respond, it is fair to say these regional leaders are not fit for public offices as they are the ones protecting individuals responsible for crimes.

Until the Prime Miister does something about this, the Nuer people should not participate in national institutions such as the enlistment in the Ethiopian National Defence Force until the Nuer feel equally protected and represented in Gambella.

The Anyuak goal of removing the Nuer and others from Puldeng, Makhot and Itang must be tackled by only placing a none Anyuak in Gambella Parliament as head of the region.

But while having Alemitu on the top job, she will continue to support terrorist and through terror, they have partially succeeded in two areas with the last remaining one getting frequent attacks.

Nuer have abandoned Itang and Makhot for security reasons and congregated in Tharpaam where they established watchout posts. Because of security measures implemented by the Nuer civilians, it became increasingly difficult to locate Nuer individuals for kill by Anyuaks due to security measures, checkpoints, and movements involving the Defence Force between Gambella town and Tharpaam.

Just to find away to kill Nuer, the Woreda Chief Administrator Omod Omot Ogar, held a meeting on Sunday calling for a ‘false peace’ and requested that Nuer government employees return to Itang town for work.

The Nuer employees were hesitant to return to Itang because of fears about their safety and a lack of trust following previous violence. While publicly promoting peace, authorities threaten withholding salaries of employees who did not return to their workplaces.”

As such, economic hardship and hunger have forced some Nuer people to lower their security concerns and return to Itang town for work, sometimes travelling approximately 8 kilometres on foot. Among those people who were forced to go to work,  a young man from Nuer ethnic group was killed today after returning to the area.

These events occurred with the involvement or cooperation of Alemitu and Omod Omod Ogar. Omot Ogar found his way using salary as a bait to attract Nuer under financial hardship.

Some Nuer employees who previously worked under the woreda administration were removed because they advocated for fairness or raised concerns about Nuer security. One such example is Ruach Kuony Bak.

His dismissal was soley motivated by challenging existing political grieances which piut Nuer lives in jeopardy such as what happened today to this young employee.

In Gambella National and Regional State Parliament, individuals such as the like of Pal Tut Gach, Dr Mun Wal, and Jacob Nhial Yat are prime examples of Alemitu thirsty for the Nuer blood.

Alemitu dismissed them and replaced them with more subdued MPs like Thok Choat, Changkuoth David and Ruach Bayek.

The Nuer individuals currently working in Itang, including Bie Thok and Stephen Kueth Gony also meets criteria of Alemitu doctrine.

Their better relations with the existing leadership from Nuer ethnic group in Itang underpinned the killing that happened yesterday on a fellow Nuer. We therefore calls on the Prime Minister to intervene if he does not want to hear more of innocent deaths in the region.

Failing to do the right thing would make victims believe what they are hearing already of the allege activities in Gambella Gold Mine which was alleged that it involve exploitation by outside groups through local political networks and questions who benefits from these resources.

Both Oromo and Nuer communities in Gambella are suffering from the Anyuak wrath and violence in Gambella. The security reports received by the Prime Minister may present the situation just as numbers and statistics, but behind those figures are real people who are loosing their lives everyday.

The Federal government could take immediate action to improve the situation by changing the regional leadership. A Nuer-led administration would be more willing and able to pursue those responsible for violent acts and redirect Gambella’s resources which are being misused through corruption involving federal agencies and the Anyuak elites.

The Prime Minister must take action against individuals accused of violence, unless, there are personnel interests preventing decisive action the current leadership has failed to stop the ongoing insecurity in Gambella.

How could a Parliament that has not passed even one insufficient law addressing punishment for individuals involved in organised violence resulting in deaths be expected to change its stance?

On top of that there have been inadequate public education campaigns promoting peaceful coexistence among communities. Instead convicted criminals are not being properly sentenced and that existing laws have been weakened rather than strengthened.