JIGJIGA (Halbeeg News) – Somali regional state authorities in Ethiopia have accused Afar region of attacking a village in Somali region.
On Sunday evening, heavily armed Afar militiamen reportedly stormed Helei Kebele, Afdem Woreda of Somali region.
Previously reports indicated that the militia raided a training base belong Lyu police forces in Somali region but discredited the reports, saying those attacked were civilians.
Somali Regional State communication bureau issued a statement on its official Facebook page condemned the attack saying “It is a fact that destructive forces have infiltrated the border kebeles of the Somali region and are responsible for the massacre of innocent Somali civilians.
“In the past, the TPLF, the Afar rebels, and the Afar Regional State’s Special Forces used heavy weapons previously used by TPLF to inflict heavy casualties on civilians,” the bureau said.
The statement further said “While any crime against humanity or property is considered a crime, genocide is the worst crime of all time,”
“Any physical or psychological harm, including discrimination and killing based on language, race, or similar factors, is a major manifestation of genocide,” the statement said.
Afar regional state admitted the death of the people but distanced itself from involving in the attack.
Ahmed Koloyta, the Afar Regional Communication Office Head accused Somali regional state of “declaring an open war” on the region.
The officer said similar attacks also happened on the other side of Afar region.
“Earlier yesterday [December 27] at 5:00 Am in the morning a familiar terrorist attack took place in Zone three, Gewane Woreda, Firitli and Refo kebeles” the statement said and expressed condolences for the people who “were killed on both sides,” he said.
The federal government of Ethiopia has not yet commented on the incidents.
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