Eight Tigrayans were killed in Raya Azebo, according to a statement issued by Tigray interim administration today.
Raya Azebo is a district in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. Amhara region also has claims to this district. The administrative center of this district is Mekhoni. Other towns in Raya Azebo include Kukufto, Bala, and Chercher. Parts of Raya Azebo are disputed between the Tigray and Amhara regional states. Most areas in the disputed zone were under Amhara administration till March. But last month, Tigray fighters took control of large parts of the disputed zone.
The Tigrayans were killed on Monday night in Kafti situated in Raya Azebo. Raya Azebo shares border with the Afar regional state. It seems that the attackers came from Afar region to carry out this attack. Tigray interim government, in its statement, said that investigation was underway to determine the identity of perpetrators. It urged Afar regional government and federal forces to protect Tigrayans in the area.
Amhara provisional government was dismantled in southern zone (Raya Alamata, Korem, Raya Azebo etc) last month. Amhara militia were expelled from the area. Thousands of people were displaced from these areas into Sekota and Kobo in recent weeks.
According to locals of the area, federal forces helped entry of Tigray fighters in southern zone. Since their entry into southern zone, Tigray fighters have been expanding territories under their control leading to conflict between Tigray and Amhara militias.
Are the perpetrators from the Afar region of Ethiopia? What prompted them to carry out this attack? Did Amhara militia members use Afar territory to carry out this attack on Tigrayans? Such questions are being raised. Afar regional government and Ethiopian federal government have not issued any statement in this regard so far.
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