Metekel. It is becoming more and more mainstream, the image of the word soaked in blood is becoming more and more frequent on social media. On 24 December 2020, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission reported that as a result of an attack in the Bekuji kebele of the Bulen woreda of the Metekel Zone, over 100 civilians had been killed. According to the commission, the perpetrators used guns and set homes on fire to commit the above horrendous crime on the residents of the Bekuji kebele. The commission also disclosed that it had observed from visits to the 38 wounded residents of the kebele that arrows were also employed in the attacks as well as harvest and homes being set on fire by the assailants. Bekuji is mostly inhabited by people from the Amhara, Oromo and Shinashas. A majority of the victims in the most recent attack were from the Shinasha ethnic group. Members of similar ethnic groups in other woredas of the blood soaked Metekel Zone also reported similar attacks, as well as the commission stating that thousands had fled the zone in fear of the violence spreading to other woredas in the Metekel Zone. The Humanitarian Relief Coordination Office of the Benishangul Gumuz Regional State told Addis Zeybe on 28 December 2020 that the number of displaced persons as a result of the recurring violence in the region had surpassed 85,000 as many flee for their safety from gunshots, fire torches and arrows.
Victim accounts told the ECHR and Amnesty International that the perpetrators were recognizable members of the Gumuz ethnic group, with some testimonies of survivors stating that the attackers were recognizable dwellers in the zone. On the next day a military operation to address the security concern of the country was announced by the prime minister of the country. Shortly the military stated that the perpetrators were members of the Gumuz insurgent group operational in the zone. On the same date, the Communications Head of the Benishangul Gumuz Regional State Melese Beyene stated that 42 members of these insurgent groups were killed as a result of the efforts of the military in the zone. Additionally high ranking officials within the contemporary administrative structure of the country were also detained in connection with above crimes including State Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of Ethiopia Thomas Kuwi, former vice president of the Benishangul Gumuz Region Adgo Amsaya and the Administrator of the Metekel Zone Atinkut Shitu.
Writing an editorial on this matter is not one that neither comes easily nor is it an enjoyable experience. In this light, Addis Zeybe would first like to express its utter heartbreak in light of the most recent killings in the Metekel sending its condolences to the surviving family members of the over 100 victims of the attack on 23 December 2020. Addis Zeybe also mourns the loss of fellow Ethiopian civilians in a manner that is neither acceptable nor justifiable by any political or historical reasoning. Like it did in the past when another ethnically motivated attack claimed the lives of over 200 ethnic Amharas in the Guliso Woreda of Western Wollega as well as its positions on the seriousness of ethnic profiling and the necessity of dialogue, it has geared the current editorial to a deeper understanding of the complex context of Ethiopia generally and Metekel specifically.
In light of this Addis Zeybe contends that it is important to note that all members of a given community must be properly represented in the electoral, administrative and security structures of the community. Citizens must be allowed to vote for whomever they believe represents their interest. This requires the non-discriminatory inclusion of all candidates. In this regard, Addis Zeybe contends that a holistic consideration of constitutional shortcomings must be addressed throughout the country, so as to avoid such tragic events from transpiring in the future. The fact that in almost all of the cases of ethnic based killing in Ethiopia in the past two and a half years members of the administrative structure of the areas where the attacks took place were involved speaks volumes about the necessity of these steps. Therefore, part of the lasting solutions for the problems of the infamous Metekel Zone is the inclusion of those being attacked in the administrative set up of the zone.
Another notable point is the reform necessary to correct the security structure in Metekel as well as other parts of the country. Addis Zeybe says this for two reasons. One is the demonstrated inability of security forces (specially those in regional states) to impartially protect the rights of civilians. Time and time again not only have the regional and zonal security forces in different parts of the country not been able to protect civilians, they have both participated in the killing of civilians on several occasions and refused to take action under the auspices of not receiving orders from higher authorities. This must change. Metekel has ethnic Amhara, Oromo and Agaw Ethiopians. They must be represented in the security forces if what we are seeking is lasting solutions. In the same manner restructuring the quota of representation in the Ethiopian Military was used in the effort to “depoliticize” the ENDF, Regional States and relevant Federal authorities must work on creating a police force that is representative of the community it serves.
Beyond the recent killings, it is also important to discuss Metekel as part of the wider security concerns of the country. Just after Metekel, over sixty more individuals lost their lives in Konso as well as news of clashes between the Afar and Isa Somalis claiming the lives of 60 security force members and civilians. Barely emerging out of a conflict in the north with TPLF forces, Ethiopia is also engaged in conflict with its neighbour and GERD negotiating party Sudan over border issues exacerbated by conflict between Sudanese forces and the Amhara Militia some weeks back. The government must make it its priority to address these impending security concerns in the country, so as to guarantee the nation does not devolve into a country ridden with protracted conflicts, as is usually the case when instability ensues in the Horn of Africa. Lasting answers to the increasingly concerning security status of the country is at the heart of guaranteeing the country’s sustained existence and “prosperity” in the coming times.
Though kicked off the headline by the conflict in the Tigray regional state of the country and other security concerns such as the one in discussion under the current editorial, the issue of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is a priority concern for Ethiopia as well. Ironically, the dam is located in the Benishangul Gumuz region. More ironically, it is in the Guba Woreda of the Metekel Zone of the Benishangul Gumuz region. On the other hand, as noted in the previous paragraph Ethiopia’s relationship with Sudan - one of the negotiating countries over the GERD - is deteriorating by the day as unconsoled border issues continue to create tension between the two countries. In light of this, Addis Zeybe also believes that the region must be stabilized as soon as possible in order to protect the investment of over a hundred million Ethiopians.
The government must take targeted as well as coordinated long term security and political steps towards guaranteeing the safety of all Ethiopians living in the Benishangul Gumuz region specifically and the country generally. It must learn to be curative rather than reactive in many ways. As opposed to only forming ad-hoc command posts and military operations that record insignificant victories compared to the damages caused by the attacks in the zone, it must take visible political and security steps in the region, simultaneously. A strong federal structure must be erected as soon as possible in order for the government to hold states accountable. This is because the constitutional order depends on this pre-erected mechanism of checks and balances between the regional and federal governments. In the absence of this, however, it has proven to be impossible to make ethnic based attacks in Metekel a past history. Addis Zeybe believes without concrete initiative from the government these attacks are also set to continue in Metekel and other parts of the country.
