The Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) of carrying out a new “massacre” of civilians in a restive area in the far west of the country, marking yet another wave of violence in the troubled region. The OLA is a rebel group that has been designated as a terrorist organization by the Ethiopian government, and the group has been fighting a rebellion in western Oromia, the largest and most populous region in the country.

Abiy claims that the OLA was “inflicting damage” on people as its fighters fled an offensive by security forces in western Oromia. The exact details of the alleged massacre are unclear due to the area’s communications blackout, but it was confirmed that access to western Oromia is restricted.

The Amhara Association of America (AAA), a US-based organization, has expressed grave concern over reports of yet another massacre against Amharas in the Oromia region. The AAA said the attack targeted members of the ethnic Amhara group in Mender 20 (Village 20) in the Hawa Gelan district of Qellem Wollega, and one of its investigators had spoken to three eyewitnesses hiding in a nearby forest. According to the AAA, the attack began at 6:00 am [local time] and was still ongoing when they spoke to the witnesses around noon. The telecommunications network in the zone had been disconnected since around 1:00 pm [local time].

A survivor who spoke to the Amhara Media Corporation, a state-run regional outlet, stated that “Nobody came to our rescue.” The survivor added, “They (the attackers) have left, and bodies are now being picked up. So far, 300 (bodies) have been collected. But it’s still early, and there are many others whose whereabouts we don’t know.” These claims cannot be verified independently.

Ethiopia’s armed forces have been fighting the OLA in Oromia for years. In June, several hundred people, mostly Amhara, were massacred by gunmen in the village of Tole in West Wollega, an area adjacent to Qellem Wollega, according to witnesses. Local authorities said the OLA was responsible, but the rebels denied any role in the killings and blamed a pro-government militia. No official toll has been published, but Abiy spokesperson Billene Seyoum told reporters on June 30 that 338 victims had been identified so far.

The ongoing conflict in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region has drawn much international attention, but the persistent cycle of violence in Oromia against civilians by security forces and armed groups has been overshadowed. The UN’s rights chief, Michele Bachelet, has called on the Ethiopian authorities to conduct “prompt, impartial, and thorough” investigations into the Tole attack. The Human Rights Watch has also documented serious abuses in Oromia, including in the west, where an “abusive” government campaign against the OLA has trapped civilians in the crossfire.

The situation in Ethiopia remains tense, with ongoing conflicts between various ethnic and political groups. The Ethiopian government must take immediate steps to address the issue and ensure the safety of all civilians, regardless of their ethnic or political affiliations. The international community must also pay attention to this ongoing crisis and provide support where necessary. Failure to do so will only lead to further violence and instability in the region.