The Oromia Regional State government issued a statement late this evening warning an unnamed group that it referred to âextremist forces operating in the name of Amharaâ who are âthe main enemies of the Amhara and Ethiopian nations and nationalities.â
The statement said these forces âhave infiltrated into the Oromia region and committed disgusting actsâ; which have âgravely angeredâ the people of the region, and warned that the Oromia state government âstrongly believes that it is not appropriate to remain silentâ when âthis extremist forceâ disseminated its âdisgusting actsâ using various media outlets, including the regional government media, and âpreaching hatred and violence.â
Sacrifice to be paid at this stage is âto save the country and the people, not to give the opportunity to extremist forces operating in the name of the Amhara.â The statement further went on accusing these âextremist forcesâ of âcausing untold national damage and eroding our valuesâ
The regional state government said multi-national unity and brotherhood were the foundation of a strong Ethiopian unity. And that standing together for the common good, strengthening our common values âârather than differences was a lasting solution. Extremism has no nationality or religious representation,â it said, added that it does not benefit anyone at all. âAs long as there is anti-people sentiment, we must fight it togetherâ it said,and alluded to the importance of process of creating consensus on the issues of disagreement as a means to âdry up the source of our problems and strengthening the constitution.â The Oromia National Regional State strongly supports ongoing efforts of the national dialogue to end this cycle of conflict once for all,â it said.
However, it blamed that âinstead of recognizing that extremism is anti-people, no matter where it comes from, and fighting it together, pointing fingers has become dominantly visible.â
Sacrifice to be paid at this stage is âto save the country and the people, not to give the opportunity to extremist forces operating in the name of the Amhara.â The statement further went on accusing these âextremist forcesâ of âcausing untold national damage and eroding our valuesâ
It also said that the ultimate goal of these extremists was to âfulfill TPLFâs conspiracyâ to create enmity between the Oromo and Amhara peoples. âIf the evil deeds of these extremists are not stopped at one place, it will create another dangerous situation in our country,â it warned.
Accusation and counter-accusations is mounting among various non-state actors and zonal officials in Oromia and Amhara states after clashes on 29 March between armed groups from the Minjar Shenkora woreda of North Shewa zone, Amhara regional state, and local militia in the bordering Fentalle woreda, East Shewa zone of Oromia regional state, resulted in the death of at least 26 local militias and members of Oromia police, including the militia commander, Abdisa Ifa, on 29 March.
AS