Ethiopian Crisis: Ethiopian civilian, military task force to lead manhunt for violence perpetrators
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) - A combined military and civilian task force has been formed in Ethiopia to lead the administration of an Ethiopian region where mass tribal killings occurred recently.
The Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed appointed the task force which involves top Federal Government officials and senior military commanders to manage Benishangul Gumuz region, after mass killings in the region.
According to the state-affiliated media, Fana Broadcasting Corporation (FANABC), Lt. General Asrat Denero of the Ethiopian National Defence Forces, will lead the security task force to hunt down the perpetrators of the recent violence in the region.
An unknown group of gunmen opened fire on villages in Metekel Zone, Bulen district, at Bekuji, killing up to 207 people identified by the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission.
The killings occurred on 23 December, including a six-month old baby, 17 children 20 elderly persons, 35 women and 133 men, according to the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, which carried out a body count before the burials.
The regional council of the Benishangul-Gumuz region in western Ethiopia, convened an emergency session on Tuesday and approved a resolution to strip some four senior officials of immunity from prosecution.
The four include the former deputy head of the regional administration, Adgo Amsaya.
The task force has pledged to bring all the perpetrators of the violence to book.
-0- PANA AO/MA 29Dec2020
