Ethnic violence in Konso

Ethnic violence in Konso
Part of the conflicts in the Horn of Africa and Ethiopian civil conflict (2018–present)
Konso is located in Ethiopia
Konso
Konso
Konso (Ethiopia)
Duration1994— present
LocationKonso, EthiopiaEthiopia
Coordinates5°20′25″N 37°26′20″E / 5.3404°N 37.4388°E / 5.3404; 37.4388
TypeEthnic violence
  • Civilians and farmers killed and injured
  • 1 million+ displaced
  • Hundreds of IDPs
  • Homes burned down
ThemeOngoing ethnic violence
CauseLand drawn along ethnic lines (Ethnic Federalism)
MotiveDispute over administrative land, leadership and territory
ParticipantsVarious militants from Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region and regions
DeathsOngoing. 83+ killed; 57+ injured

The conflict in Konso is part of a series of ethnic-based violence in Ethiopia. UN OCHA reported that its Early warning department of SNNPR categorized Konso as a priority hot spot area. Repeated conflict and the issue of adverse weather exacerbated the existing humanitarian crisis in the Zone.[1] Interpersonal ethnic violence are deepening into serious human rights violations and suffering, with the ethnic federalism system that drew formal administrative divisions with regional boundaries falling along ethnic lines.[2][3]

Background and events of the Konso conflict

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This is the background for some southern ethnic habitation since the 1990s and the timeline of the Konso conflict.

Period Event and land administration Description Date
Pre-1994 Independent Woredas Amaro, Burji, Derashe, Konso, and Alle Prior to the 1994 ethnic federalism[4]
During and pre-EPRDF Special Woreda with Semi-autonomous administrative setup Amaro, Burji, Derashe, and Konso. Special Woredas directly report to SNNR (not to Zone) During and pre-EPRDF[4]
During and pre-EPRDF Minorities in Konso and Derashe Special Woredas Alle (also known as Dhobasse in Derashe, or Gewada in Konso) During and pre-ERDF[4]
During and pre-EPRDF Residents of the Derashe Special Woreda Dirasha, Mossiye, Masholle and Kussume, and the Alle (Dhobasse) as minority During and pre-EPRDF[4]
During and pre-EPRDF Residents of the Konso Special Woreda Majority Konso, and Gewada (Alle) as minority During and pre-EPRDF[4]
During and pre-EPRDF Residents of the Amaro Special Woreda the Kore ethnic group During and pre-EPRDF[4]
During and pre-EPRDF Residents of the Burji Special Woreda the Burji ethnic group post-1994[4]
During EPRDF with ethnic federalism Alle minority sought independence The Alle minority wanted to pursue its own Special Woreda post-1994[4]
During EPRDF Start of dispute with removal of Special Woredas as a temporary solution Formation of Segan Area People's Zone by the ruling SNNPR and the regional party, SEPDM 28 March 2011[4]
During EPRDF The Segan Area Zone incorporated various ethnic groups from various Woredas, including Alle Alle, Burji, Dirasha, Konso (Xonsita), Kore, Kusumie, Mashole and Moseye, and others (Oromo, Welayta, Amhara, Gurage) post-1994[4]
During EPRDF Konso protest and imprisonment Resistance by the Konso population and movement to establish Konso Zone. Other issues: dispute over a decision to keep Gumade as Zone capital city City of Segan's (Gumade) versus the Konsos’ city (Karat) 2016 [5][4][6][7]
post-EPRDF Release of the Konso prisoners Abiy Ahmed announced the release of political prisoners in Ethiopia 2018[4]
post-EPRDF Dissociation from the Segan Zone Konso and Ale's groups split from Segan Zone November 2018[4]
post-EPRDF Konso became an independent Zone Violence triggered due to administrative border and leadership disputes. 66 people killed in 17 Kebeles. 39 people injured with more than 130,000 IDPs, and 137 people arrested. 2018 to November 2020[8]
During Prosperity Party ruling Attack in Segan town of Konso Unidentified militants reportedly attacked a restaurant. 3 people killed and 5 injured August 2021[9]
During Prosperity Party ruling Intercommunal violence in SNNPR 70,000 IDPs in Konso 2020 to 2021[10][11][12]
During Prosperity Party ruling Killings with disputed agricultural land Unidentified militia clashed with Konso ethnic militia & SNNPR special forces in Dimaya, Konso Zone resulted in unknown number of fatalities. Dimaya is border between Alle and Konso special Woredas 26 March 2022[13]
During Prosperity Party ruling Segan's revenue officer shot and killed Unidentified militia killed 1 officer while eating dinner at a restaurant 26 March 2022[13]
During Prosperity Party ruling Segan's revenue officer shot and killed Unidentified armed men from Alle killed 9 and injured 13 people in Dimiya, Segen, and Kolme cluster areas in Konso zone. The gun men burned down several homes 27 March 2022[13]
During Prosperity Party ruling Civilians, and other killed in Segan Unidentified armed men from Derashe shot and killed 1 Kebele officer, 1 local militia member and 2 civilians 31 March 2022[13]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Ethiopia: MIRA – MIRA – Conflict Needs Assessment Report in Konso Zone". assessments.hpc.tools. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  2. ^ "West Guji Conflict". Ethiopia Peace Observatory. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  3. ^ "Brief Monitoring Report on the Ongoing Human Rights Situation in Konso Zone & Surrounding Areas Following a Conflict that Recurred on November 10, 2020". Ethiopian Human Rights Commission - EHRC. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Segen Area Peoples Zone Conflict". Ethiopia Peace Observatory. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  5. ^ Observer, Ethiopia (2016-03-14). "Traditional leader arrested in Konso". Ethiopia Observer. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  6. ^ Davison, William (2016-04-08). "Ethiopia's clampdown on dissent tests ethnic federal structure". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  7. ^ Zemede, Yared Ayalew (2017-06-01). "The Quest for Self-Determination Under Ethiopia's Ethnic Federalism: The Case of the People of Konso". Rochester, NY. SSRN 3500018.
  8. ^ St, Addis; ard (2020-12-02). "News: Number of civilians killed in recent violence in Konso reaches 66; 39 injured and more than 130, 000 displaced". Addis Standard. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  9. ^ St, Addis; ard (2022-04-19). "News: Close to 37,000 newly displaced civilians in urgent need of humanitarian assistance in Konso Zone, SNNP State". Addis Standard. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  10. ^ "Ethiopia: Humanitarian Access Snapshot (January - June 2021) - Ethiopia ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. 9 August 2021. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  11. ^ "Displaced by Violence in Ethiopia: A 9-Year-Old's Story". UNICEF USA. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  12. ^ "Uprooted in Ethiopia: A day in the life of Gabezech". www.unicef.org. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  13. ^ a b c d "Ethiopia Peace Observatory Weekly: 26 March-1 April 2022 [EN/AM] - Ethiopia | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. 6 April 2022. Retrieved 2023-02-13.
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