Benishangul-Gumuz conflict (2019)
When: 2019
Where: Benishangul-Gumuz Region of (Western) Ethiopia
How it started
- During the emperorship of Haile Selassie and the following Derg epoch
- Ethiopia was mostly ruled by Mengistu Haile Mariam
- ethnic discrimination occurred against Afars, Tigrayans, Eritreans, Somalis and Oromos
- In the following period, ethnic federalism was implemented by Tigray People’s Liberation Front leader Meles Zenawi
- discrimination against Amharas, Oromos and other ethnic groups continued during TPLF rule.
The Conversation 1
- Metekkel is home to ethnic groups (majority Gumuz) are opposed to Amhara state’s claim to ownership of the zone
- for mineral deposits
- for farmable lands
- armed malitias from Gumuz attacked Oromo, Amhara, Shinasha, Awi resents of Metekkel (Sep 2020 → Mar 2021)
- Gumuz and Shinasha control the 6 districts, unrepresentative of other ethnic groups
- the area ethnic interests deviated from one another because
- marginalisation
- ethnic exclusion
- poor governance
- the absence of workable democratic mechanisms
- at its core, the conflict might be about ethnic, but its bascially its about political conflicts
Al Jazeera 2
- Cause: Because the crackdown on the OLA by the government, who betrayed them, the OLA retaliated demanding autonomy and interdependence from a federal state (Ethiopia )
- Response: The government turns a blind eye to and normalize the killings without finding justice. They put on ineffective state of emergencies and essentially made Ethiopia a failed state
- Solutions:
- Ethiopian people should be the one deciding Ethiopia’s future, not a prime minister or political party and all ethnic groups should be represented equally not just one ethnic group.
- To fix this, the system of Tigray People’s Liberation Front , where Amharas are second class citizens if they are not in their ethnic region, should be thrown out. 2
- National dialogue between OLA and government and between ethnic groups must happen to stop ethnic discrimination and genocide.