Ethiopian Defence Force Ignoring Tribal Clashes in Afar Regional State

19 June 2012 [ESAT News] The Afar Forum sent a statement to ESAT accusing the Ethiopian Defence Forces based in the Afar Regional State of giving cold shoulder to an ongoing massacre being perpetrated on Afars by the rival militias from the Issa tribe. The attacks have grown in intensity and frequency since this current wave of attacks has started one month ago. In one recent incident members of Ethiopian Defence Forces chose to stand on the side line and watch while several young Afars are massacred by the heavily armed Issa militias. The statement also says the militias are supported by the neighbouring Somali regional state government and the Djibouti government.

The forum has acknowledged that the Issa tribal leaders have claimed ownership of some lands and economic interests in the region. However, the federal government is using this claim to pit the Afars and Issas against one another to secure the economic interests of undisclosed business entities.

The statement in the end requested the Ethiopian government, the Djibouti government, and the government of the Somali regional state to help stop the brazen attacks.  Afar has been on the news lately. This news site has recently reported about widespread human right violations committed by the Ethiopian government. There is an ongoing controversy between ethnic Afars and Ethiopian government related to a newly unveiled sugar plantation in the region.