Benishangul-Gumuz conflict

{{Short description|2019–2022 armed conflict in Ethiopia}} {{Infobox military conflict | conflict = Benishangul-Gumuz conflict | width = 415px | partof = the [[Ethiopian civil conflict (2018–present)]] | image = Benishangul-Gumuz in Ethiopia.svg | image_size = 225px | alt = | caption = Location of Benishangul-Gumuz Region in Ethiopia | date = 23 June 2019 – 19 October 2022<ref name="auto">{{cite web |title=Benishangul Gumuz regional govt, rebel group sign peace agreement |url=https://addisstandard.com/news-benishangul-gumuz-regional-govt-rebel-group-sign-peace-agreement/ |website=Addis Standard |date=19 October 2022 |access-date=22 October 2022}}</ref> | place = [[Benishangul-Gumuz Region]], [[Ethiopia]] | coordinates = | map_type = | map_relief = | map_size = | map_marksize = | map_caption = | map_label = | territory = | result = | status = [[Benishangul-Gumuz conflict#Peace process|Peace agreement]] reached | combatants_header = | combatant1 = {{flag|Ethiopia}} * {{flagicon image|Flag of the Ethiopian National Defense Force.svg}} [[Ethiopian National Defense Force|ENDF]] * {{flagicon|Benishangul-Gumuz}} [[Benishangul-Gumuz Region]] * {{flagicon|Amhara}} [[Amhara Region]]<ref name="AddisStand_Metekel_Sep2020attacks"/> {{flagicon image|Flag_of_Ethiopia_(Blank).svg}} [[Fano (militia)|Fano]]<ref name="ForeignPolicy_AllNotQuiet">{{cite news|title=All Is Not Quiet on Ethiopia's Western Front|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/01/06/ethiopia-benishangul-gumuz-violence-gerd-western-front|newspaper=[[Foreign Policy]]|date=6 January 2021}}</ref> | combatant2 = {{flagicon|Benishangul-Gumuz}} [[Gumuz People’s Democratic Movement]]<ref name=addisstandard0723>{{cite news|url=https://addisstandard.com/news-eight-killed-16-injured-in-latest-attack-by-armed-group-in-benishangul-gumuz-despite-peace-agreement/|title=Eight killed, 16 injured in latest attack by armed group in Benishangul Gumuz despite peace agreement|work=Addis Standard|date=15 July 2023}}</ref> {{flagicon image|BPLM Flag.svg}} [[Benishangul People's Liberation Movement]]<ref name=addisstandard1222>{{cite news|url=https://addisstandard.com/news-benishangul-gumuz-region-signs-peace-agreement-with-second-rebel-group-deal-signed-in-sudan/|title=Benishangul Gumuz region signs peace agreement with second rebel group, deal signed in Sudan |work=Addis Standard|date=12 December 2022}}</ref> {{flagicon image|Flag of the Oromo Liberation Front.svg}} [[Oromo Liberation Front|Oromo Liberation Army]]<ref name="AddisStand_90killed_Bulen"/> {{flagicon image|Infobox TPLF.png}} [[Tigray People's Liberation Front]] (alleged)<ref name="AddisStand_90killed_Bulen"/> | combatant3 = | commander1 = {{flagicon|Ethiopia}} [[Abiy Ahmed]] {{flagicon|Benishangul-Gumuz}} Ashadli Hussein | commander2 = {{flagicon image|BPLM Flag.svg}} Abdul Wahab Mehdi Isa (BPLM)<ref name=addisstandard1222/> | commander3 = | units1 = | units2 = | units3 = | strength1 = | strength2 = 500+{{citation needed|date=March 2021}} | strength3 = | casualties1 = Unknown | casualties2 = {{flagicon|Benishangul-Gumuz}}{{flagicon image|BPLM Flag.svg}} 137 killed<ref name=":1"/><ref name="FanaBC_42executions"/> {{flagicon image|Infobox TPLF.png}} 28 killed<ref name=":23 TPLF"/><ref name=":1"/> | casualties3 = 437–537 civilians killed<ref name="BBC_BG_dozens"/><ref name="AddisStand_Metekel_Sep2020attacks"/><ref name="AddisStand_Abiy_visit_to_Metekel"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ethiopia-violence-idUSKBN28Z0U0|title=Death toll from attack in western Ethiopia reaches 222, Red Cross says|publisher=Reuters|date=25 December 2020}}</ref><ref name="AJE_EHRC_Metekel_12Jan2021"/> Estimated 100,000 [[internally displaced]] and 7,000 [[refugees]]<ref name=theconversation/> | notes = | campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Horn of Africa}} }}

The '''Benishangul-Gumuz conflict''' was an armed conflict mostly in the [[Metekel Zone]] of the [[Benishangul-Gumuz Region]] in Ethiopia that started in 2019, until peace agreement signed between the rebel groups and the [[government of Ethiopia]] in October 2022.<ref name="AddisStand_90killed_Bulen"/>

==Background== ===Ethnic tensions=== [[Benishangul-Gumuz]] is home to several different ethnicities including the [[Gumuz people|Gumuz]], [[Berta people|Berta]], [[Shinasha people|Shinasha]], [[Mao people|Mao]], [[Kwama people|Komo]] and [[Fadashi people|Fadashi]]. The Gumuz have had tensions with agricultural [[Amhara people|Amhara]], [[Oromo people|Oromo]]s, [[Tigrayans]] and [[Agaw people|Agaw]] migrants, who in Metekel Zone constitute minority ethnic groups. Large scale land acquisitions by both local and foreign investors have pushed the Gumuz off the land.<ref name=theconversation/><ref name="NewHuman_anger_fear"/> The Benishangul-Gumuz constitution was revised in 2002 to designate the Gumuz, Shinasha, Berta, Komo, and Mao as “owners” and disenfranchised all other ethnic groups as residents, but not citizens, limiting their prospects in economic participation and political representation.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://harvardpolitics.com/ethnic-cleansing-ethiopia/|title=Ethnic Cleansing in Ethiopia|last=Kifle|first=Sara|date=19 April 2021|work=Harvard Political Review}}</ref> Gumuz are alleged to have formed militias such as Buadin and the Gumuz Liberation Front that have staged attacks against those seen as "settlers".<ref name=news24/><ref name=borkena>{{cite news|url=https://borkena.com/2021/01/12/benishangul-at-least-60-civilians-mostly-women-children-killed/|title=Benishangul: At least 60 civilians mostly women, children killed|date=12 January 2021|website=borkena.com}}</ref><ref name="AP_Metekel_massacre"/> Local officials admitted and then apologized for orchestrating ethnic killings as a way to push back against the ruling [[Prosperity Party]] which was alleged to be planning to eliminate self rule for the country's ethnic groups.<ref name=theconversation/> Some Amhara groups calling for Metekel to be incorporated into Amhara. The Chairman of an Amhara group called [[Fano (nationalist movement)|Fano]], Solomon Atanaw, said in March 2020 that ''Fano'' would not disarm without Metekel zone being part of Amhara Region.<ref name="Ezega_Fano_will_not_disarm"/> At a public meeting with [[Prime Minister of Ethiopia|prime minister]] [[Abiy Ahmed]] on 22 December, Zebid Budna of [[Kamashi Zone]] attributed the violence to the [[Oromo Liberation Front|Oromo Liberation Army]].<ref name="AddisStand_Abiy_visit_to_Metekel"/>

Around this time, the federal government was waging a war with the [[Tigray People's Liberation Front]] (TPLF) and has often blamed the TPLF for problems around the country.<ref name="NewHuman_anger_fear"/> Ashadli Hussein, president of the [[Benishangul-Gumuz Region]], blamed the (TPLF) as holding the main responsibility<ref name="AddisStand_90killed_Bulen"/> and stated that there were many groups associated with political parties encouraging the armed conflict. He blamed the TPLF as holding the main responsibility.<ref name="AddisStand_90killed_Bulen"/>

===Regional tension=== Benishangul-Gumuz is also home to the [[Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam]] (GERD), which has caused tensions with neighboring [[Sudan]] and [[Egypt]] because of the dam's effect on the [[Nile River]] downstream. Sudan recently laid claim to Guba district in the Metekel zone closest to Sudan where the GERD lies, citing the belief that Guba was gifted to [[Emperor Menelik II]] by Khalifa Abdullahi.<ref name=theconversation/> The government has blamed Egypt of assisting the Gumuz militia.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/egypt-working-to-destabilize-ethiopia-east-africa/2120191|title='Egypt working to destabilize Ethiopia, East Africa'|last=Tessema|first=Seleshi|date=23 January 2021|publisher=Anadolu Agency}}</ref> The federal Ethiopian government, run by [[Prosperity Party]] (PP), attributed major responsibility for massacres to the TPLF and to the Egyptian government in relation to the GERD, with Towabeb Mehret of the PP stating, "The groups who are benefiting from this [violence] are terrorists getting orders from the TPLF".<ref name="NewHuman_anger_fear"/> [[List of public higher institutions in Ethiopia|Assosa University]] researcher [[Tsegaye Berhanu]] criticised this point of view, stating that the government "should not externalise problems and point fingers at political opposition parties. It should try to understand the real causes [of the violence] and address [them]."<ref name="NewHuman_anger_fear"/>

==Course of the conflict== ===2019=== ====June==== The [[Amhara Region coup d'état attempt]] took place on 22 June 2019. Early on the morning of 23 June, armed men suspected to be supportive of the leader of the attempted coup killed 37 people and wounded 18 in the Metekel Zone.<ref name="AP_BG_37killed_23June2019"/>

===2020=== ====September==== Weeks of attacks on civilians took place in Metekel Zone in early September, especially in [[Bulan (woreda)|Bulan]]. [[social networking service|Online social media]] estimated 150 deaths, which Atinkut Shitu, administrator of Metekel Zone, disputed. According to social media as summarised by ''[[Addis Standard]]'', the targets were ethnic Amharans. Officials stated that the attacks had no ethnic motivations.<ref name="AddisStand_Metekel_Sep2020attacks"/>

====October==== 12–40 people were killed over a personal dispute over a stolen firearm in Metekel zone. Amhara politicians claim it was an attack on members of the Amhara ethnic group by Gumuz militias.<ref name="news24">{{cite news|title=12 killed in latest attack in western Ethiopia|url=https://www.news24.com/news24/africa/news/12-killed-in-latest-attack-in-western-ethiopia-20201013|date=13 October 2020|publisher=News24|language=en-US}}</ref>

====November==== A 14 November attack on a passenger bus in Benishangul-Gumuz killed at least 34 people.<ref name="BBC_BG_dozens"/> It occurred in Benishangul-Gumuz Region, as the bus was travelling between [[Wenbera]] and [[Chagni]] in the context of the wider [[Metekel conflict]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ethiopia-violence/gunmen-in-western-ethiopia-kill-at-least-34-people-in-bus-attack-rights-body-says-idUSKBN27V0DF|title=Gunmen in western Ethiopia kill at least 34 people in bus attack, rights body says|publisher=[[Reuters]]|date=15 November 2020}}</ref> Aljazeera reported that the violence as ethnically motivated, and targeted campaign by ethnic Gumuz militias against ethnic Amhara and Agew living in Metekel.<ref name="Dozens">{{cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/11/15/attack-on-bus-in-western-ethiopia-leaves-more-than-30-people-dead|title=Dozens killed in 'gruesome' bus attack in western Ethiopia|publisher=[[Al Jazeera English]]|date=15 November 2020|accessdate=15 November 2020}}</ref>

====December==== In December 2020, Ashadli stated that federal and regional security forces were coordinating in "annihilating 'anti-peace forces', arresting them, and confiscating firearms".<ref name="AddisStand_90killed_Bulen"/> Vice-president of the Benishangul-Gumuz Region, Getahun Abdisa, described the region's actions in terms of a "coordinated effort between the regional government, the federal government, the regional police, anti-insurgency and security forces" of detaining members of "criminal groups".<ref name="AddisStand_15Dec2020_massacre"/> On 21 December 2020, the Benishangul-Gumuz Command Post stated that it was carrying out a "door-to-door hunt" of suspected perpetrators of the violence.<ref name="AddisStand_Abiy_visit_to_Metekel"/>

The command post of Metekel zone killed 23 insurgents reportedly associated with the TLPF in [[Dangur]].<ref name=":23 TPLF">{{cite news|title=Command post kills 23 insurgents in western Ethiopia|work=New Business Ethiopia|url=https://newbusinessethiopia.com/tragedy/command-post-kills-23-insurgents-in-western-ethiopia/|date=8 December 2020|language=en-US}}</ref>

Civilians were killed in the [[Dangur]] and [[Dibate]] woredas on 15 December. Amhara Region officials stated that the victims were [[Amhara people|Amharans]] killed for their ethnic identity. Benishangul-Gumuz officials disagreed with the identifying the conflict as "communal violence between various nations".<ref name="AddisStand_15Dec2020_massacre"/> ''[[Addis Standard]]'' estimated on 22 December that Metekel Zone attacks had killed 24 people.<ref name="AddisStand_Abiy_visit_to_Metekel"/>

=====Metekel massacre===== {{main|Metekel massacre}} On the night of 22–23 December 2020, a massacre and burning down of houses took place in Bikuji [[kebele]] in Metekel Zone.<ref name="AP_Metekel_massacre"/><ref name="AddisStand_90killed_Bulen"/> {{As of|2020|12|23}}, the [[Ethiopian Human Rights Commission]] counted 100 deaths. Other sources state 220 were killed<ref name="AP_Metekel_massacre"/> of mostly Amharas, Oromos, and Shinashas by a suspected Gumuz militia.<ref name="NewHuman_anger_fear"/> Authorities responded by killing 42 suspects and arresting seven officials.<ref name="FanaBC_42executions"/><ref name="AlArabiya_42executions"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ethiopia-violence/over-80-killed-in-attack-in-ethiopian-border-region-with-sudan-state-rights-commission-idUSKBN29I23R |publisher=Reuters |title= Over 80 killed in attack in Ethiopian border region with Sudan - state rights commission |date=13 January 2021}}</ref>

===2021=== ====January==== Between 5:00 and 7:00 on the morning of 12 January in Daletti in the Metekel Zone, 82 civilians were killed and 22 injured in an attack, according to the [[Ethiopian Human Rights Commission]] (EHRC).<ref name="AJE_EHRC_Metekel_12Jan2021"/>

====February==== On 26 February, "government security forces" killed 26 unarmed civilians in [[Dibate]].<ref name="AddisStand_Metekel_security_forces_kill"/>

====April==== An unidentified armed group took over the county of Sedal Woreda in the [[Kamashi Zone]] of the Benishangul-Gumuz Region in April 2021.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/ethiopia-rights-commission-said-armed-group-has-taken-control-county-2021-04-21/|title=Armed group takes control of county in western Ethiopia - rights commission|publisher=Reuters|date=21 April 2021}}</ref>

====May==== On May 22, suspected members of the Gumuz People’s Liberation Movement entered into [[Nejo (woreda)|Nejo woreda]], [[Oromia|Oromo Region]], and killed 6 people and injured one. They also burned down houses.<ref name=EPO>{{cite web|date=9 June 2021|title=EPO Monthly: May 2021 |publisher=Ethiopia Peace Observatory|url=https://epo.acleddata.com/2021/06/09/epo-monthly-may-2021/|language=en-US}}</ref>

====July==== On July 28, the government said they had killed 95 members of the GPDM in an operation in [[Awolbegu kebele]], [[Sherkole|Sherkole district]]. 5 members of the TPLF were also said to be killed.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|title=Benishangul authorities says over 100 armed rebels annihilated|url=https://borkena.com/2021/07/28/benishangul-authorities-says-over-100-armed-rebels-annihilated/|date=28 July 2021|website=borkena.com|language=en-US}}</ref>

In September 2021, special forces from Ahmara and other regions were redeployed to Benishangul-Gumuz to deal with the increased insecurity.<ref>{{cite web|title=At least 20 people killed in latest attack by armed men in Benishagul Gumuz state; UN says growing insecurity worsening humanitarian conditions|url=https://addisstandard.com/news-at-least-20-people-killed-in-latest-attack-by-armed-men-in-benishagul-gumuz-state-un-says-growing-insecurity-worsening-humanitarian-conditions/|date=5 March 2022|website=Addis Standard|language=en-US}}</ref>

===Peace process=== On 22 December 2020, Abiy Ahmed held talks with Metekel Zone residents, [[Ministry of Peace (Ethiopia)|Minister of Peace]] [[Muferiat Kamil]], army Chief of Staff [[Birhanu Jula Gelalcha]], Ashadli Hussein, and other officials.<ref name="AddisStand_Abiy_visit_to_Metekel"/> Ashadli stated that the [[Ministry of Peace (Ethiopia)|Ministry of Peace]] would coordinate the creation of a [[truth commission|reconciliation committee]] consisting of people from the Benishangul-Gumuz and [[Amhara Region]]s.<ref name="AddisStand_90killed_Bulen"/>

By late February 2021, several peace forums had been held in Gilgil Beles, the capital of Metekel Zone. The federal government started creating a "multi-ethnic self-defence militia", which had 9000 members {{as of|2021|02|lc=yes}}. [[Tsegaye Berhanu]], a researcher at [[List of public higher institutions in Ethiopia|Assosa University]] was critical of the creation of the militia, stating, "Arming unarmed groups is like encouraging revenge, and puts the area into an endless conflict trap."<ref name="NewHuman_anger_fear"/>

On May 18, members of the [[Gumuz People’s Democratic Movement]] (GPDM) signed a [[memorandum of understanding]] with the regional government agreeing to undergo re-integration training in the region. Despite this, other armed groups like the Gumuz People’s Liberation Movement continued to perpetrate violent attacks against civilian populations delaying the Ethiopian election. In October 2022, Benishangul Gumuz regional government communication bureau said the regional government and the GPDM signed a peace agreement to resolve their differences “through dialogue.”<ref name="auto"/> In December 2022, the regional government signed a peace agreement with the armed group Benishangul People’s Liberation Movement (BPLM) in Khartoum, Sudan.<ref name=addisstandard1222/>

===Post peace treaty=== Despite the peace agreement in 2022, an attack by GPDM led to the deaths of eight people. The violence was preceded by the killing of a native Gumuz teenager in a car accident and was followed by the killing by GPDM of a shepherd.<ref name=addisstandard0723/>

==Casualties== ===Massacres of civilians=== Mass killings of civilians in Metekel Zone started on 23 June 2019, the day following the [[Amhara Region coup d'état attempt]],<ref name="AP_BG_37killed_23June2019"/> and continued in September,<ref name="AddisStand_Metekel_Sep2020attacks"/> October,<ref name="news24"/> [[2020 Ethiopia bus attack|November]],<ref name="BBC_BG_dozens"/> and December 2020,<ref name="AddisStand_15Dec2020_massacre"/><ref name="AP_Metekel_massacre"/><ref name="AddisStand_90killed_Bulen"/> and in January<ref name="AJE_EHRC_Metekel_12Jan2021"/> and February 2021.<ref name="AddisStand_Metekel_security_forces_kill"/>

===Displaced people=== More than a hundred thousand people were displaced by the conflict as of February 2021<ref name="NewHuman_anger_fear"/> and 7,000 have fled to neighboring [[Sudan]].<ref name=theconversation/>

==See also== * [[Metekel massacre]] * [[Oromo conflict]] ** [[Gawa Qanqa massacre]] * [[Tigray War]] * [[Amhara Region coup d'état attempt]]

==References== <references> <ref name="AP_BG_37killed_23June2019">{{cite news |last=Meseret |first=Elias |title=Ethiopia: 37 killed in another region after coup attempt |date=26 June 2019 |publisher=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://apnews.com/article/36d94532c21045e3a050d67470d07a43}}</ref>

<ref name="AddisStand_90killed_Bulen">{{cite news |last1=Mekonnen |first1=Siyanne |last2=Fasil |first2=Mahlet |title=News Alert: Eyewitnesses say more than 90 killed in fresh attack in Bulen Wereda, Benishangul Gumuz; region cautions civilians to join safe villages |date=23 December 2020 |newspaper=[[Addis Standard]] |url=https://addisstandard.com/news-alert-eyewitnesses-say-more-than-90-killed-in-fresh-attack-in-bulen-wereda-benishangul-gumuz-region-cautions-civilians-to-join-safe-villages/}}</ref>

<ref name="AddisStand_15Dec2020_massacre">{{cite news |last=Mekonnen |first=Siyanne |title=News: As killings of civilians continue in Metekel, authorities in Benishagul Gumuz, Amhara regional states step up blames |date=17 December 2020 |newspaper=[[Addis Standard]] |url=https://addisstandard.com/news-as-killings-of-civilians-continue-in-metekel-authorities-in-benishagul-gumuz-amhara-regional-states-step-up-blames}}</ref>

<ref name="AddisStand_Abiy_visit_to_Metekel">{{cite news |last1=Mekonnen |first1=Siyanne |title=News: PM Abiy meets Metekel residents to discuss security; meeting comes a day after door-to-door 'hunt' launched to control 'criminal groups' behind attacks on civilians |date= 22 December 2020 |newspaper=[[Addis Standard]] |url=https://addisstandard.com/news-pm-abiy-meets-metekel-residents-to-discuss-security-meeting-comes-a-day-after-door-to-door-hunt-launched-to-control-criminal-groups-behind-attacks-on-civilians/}}</ref>

<ref name="BBC_BG_dozens">{{cite news |title=Benishangul-Gumuz: Attackers kill dozens in western Ethiopia |date=23 December 2020 |newspaper=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-55428531}}</ref>

<ref name="AddisStand_Metekel_Sep2020attacks">{{cite news |last1=Mekonnen |first1=Siyanna |last2=Abera |first2=Etenesh |title=Analysis: Weeks long attacks on civilians leave several dead, injured in Metekel zone, Benishangul Gumuz region |date=16 September 2020 |newspaper=[[Addis Standard]] |url=https://addisstandard.com/analysis-weeks-long-attacks-on-civilians-leave-several-dead-injured-in-metekel-zone-benishangul-gumuz-region/}}</ref>

<ref name="AP_Metekel_massacre">{{cite news |date=23 December 2020 |title=More than 100 killed in latest ethnic massacre in Ethiopia |url=https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-ethiopia-massacres-abiy-ahmed-kenya-763c31a2160b249658b823e3b6e6d282 |publisher=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

<ref name="FanaBC_42executions">{{cite news |title=Defence army takes measures against 42 anti-peace elements in Metekel zone |date=24 December 2020 |newspaper=[[Fana Broadcasting Corporation]] |url=https://www.fanabc.com/english/defence-army-takes-measures-against-42-anti-peace-elements-in-metekel-zone/}}</ref>

<ref name="AlArabiya_42executions">{{cite news |title=Ethiopian troops kill 42 armed men behind deadly village attack, reports state TV |date=24 December 2020 |newspaper=[[Al Arabiya]] |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/world/2020/12/24/Ethiopian-troops-kill-42-armed-men-behind-deadly-village-attack-reports-state-TV}}</ref>

<ref name="AJE_EHRC_Metekel_12Jan2021">{{cite news |title=Over 80 civilians killed in latest west Ethiopia massacre: EHRC |date=13 January 2021 |newspaper=[[Al Jazeera English]] |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/1/13/over-80-killed-in-west-ethiopia-attack-rights-commission}}</ref>

<ref name="Ezega_Fano_will_not_disarm">{{cite web |title=Fano Will Not Lay Down Arms If Demands Are Not Met: Chairman |date=28 March 2020 |website=Ezega.com |url=https://www.ezega.com/News/NewsDetails/7856/Fano-Will-Not-Lay-Down-Arms-If-Demands-Are-Not-Met-Chairman}}</ref>

<ref name="AddisStand_Metekel_security_forces_kill">{{cite news |last1=Mekonnen |first1=Siyanne |title=News: Security forces kill scores of civilians, arrest several in Metekel after attack by rebels killed three, wounded seven; Ethiopia accuses Egypt & Sudan for persistent violence |date=8 March 2021 |newspaper=[[Addis Standard]] |url=https://addisstandard.com/news-security-forces-kill-scores-of-civilians-arrest-several-in-metekel-after-attack-by-rebels-killed-three-wounded-seven-ethiopia-accuses-egypt-sudan-for-persistent-violence}}</ref>

<ref name="NewHuman_anger_fear">{{cite web |last1=Gerth-Niculescu |first1=Maria |title=Anger, fear run deep after months of ethnic violence in western Ethiopia |website=[[The New Humanitarian]] |date=23 February 2021 |url=https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news-feature/2021/2/23/fear-runs-deep-after-ethnic-violence-in-western-Ethiopia}}</ref>

<ref name=theconversation>{{Cite news|url=https://theconversation.com/whats-causing-the-violence-in-western-ethiopia-156970|title=What's causing the violence in western Ethiopia |last=Etefa |first=Tsega |website=The Conversation |date=16 March 2021}}</ref> </references>

[[Category:2019 in Ethiopia]] [[Category:2020 in Ethiopia]] [[Category:2021 in Ethiopia]] [[Category:2022 in Ethiopia]] [[Category:Conflicts in 2019]] [[Category:Conflicts in 2020]] [[Category:Conflicts in 2021]] [[Category:Conflicts in 2022]] [[Category:Ethiopian civil conflict (2018–present)]] [[Category:Ethnic conflicts]] [[Category:Civil wars in Ethiopia]] [[Category:Proxy wars]] [[Category:History of Benishangul-Gumuz Region]]