Ethiopia: Tourist killed in Afar

by Engidu Woldie

ESAT News (December 4, 2017)

Initial reports reaching ESAT say unknown assailants killed a tourist and a driver on Monday in Arerti, Afar, in Northern Ethiopia.

The identity of the deceased is not yet known.

The tourist was heading to Erta Ale, an active volcano area in the Afar frequented by tourists.

No party claimed responsibility for the deadly attack.

The Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front (ARDUF), an armed group opposing the TPLF regime, took responsibility in hostages and attacks on tourists in 2012 and 2007.

A total of five tourists were killed in the 2012 attack by ARDUF while three were injured and four others kidnapped. Two of the deceased were Germans, two Hungarians and one Austrian.

Five Europeans and 13 Ethiopians were kidnapped in 2007 but were later released after negotiations with ARDUF.

The Ethiopian regime routinely blames arch foe Eritrea for the attacks in Afar. Eritrea denies the allegations.