“An Early Morning Call“
It was Friday April 19, 2024 in Ethiopia. I was in a deep sleep when an early morning phone call from my sister woke me up. I knew that a call at such an unusual time was not normal, and my guess was correct. She informed me that our cousin, a 19-year-old grade 12 student, had been kidnapped. He had never ventured far from his hometown, and I imagined the psychological impact he would face. He was supposed to prepare for his university entrance exam this year, but many schools in the Amhara region are currently closed. His sister (my other cousin) had a wedding, and he had a plan to attend it in Addis Ababa. I felt depressed and desperate about what to do. It was incredibly distressing to hear such news, especially when the victim is a family member.
How the Kidnapping Happened?
My cousin started his journey by road from a small town in Gojjam Amhara region, heading towards Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on April 19. He was traveling in a public transport bus, traditionally called a “tata,” with about 60 people. Unfortunately, their bus was stopped at a place called Bitu Wenz, situated between Guhatsion and Tulu Mileki towns, in the Woreda of North Shewa zone in the Oromia region. Hew was abducted there along with other passengers.
Ransom Negotiation with the Kidnappers
After four days, he was allowed to call us using the kidnappers’ phone and informed us that they were demanding a ransom of 1 million Ethiopian birr; otherwise, they would kill him within a week. We were worried, and his poor family immediately started selling their cattle and other valuable items they have. And they started collecting funds from local people by preparing banners. I also sent the money I could. After two days of our conversation, we informed the kidnappers that his family was poor but trying their best to collect the money. The abductees’ mobile phones were already in the hands of the kidnappers, so we had limited communication. Long story short, the kidnappers finally agreed to 500,000 ETB, and we made a bank transfer.
A Call to My Cousin: Life in the Hands of Kidnappers
On June 2, 2024 my cousin was on his way back to his small hometown. I called him, and he informed me about what happened. Three travelers were killed immediately because they refused to go with the abductors. They were then forced to walk for three days through forests and sometimes desert-like areas. Among them was a pregnant woman who suffered greatly. The abductors gave her sugar water on the first day, as she was almost exhausted. The abductors asked people they encountered along the way for food and distributed it to the abductees. For the first week, there were no life-threatening conditions except for the exhaustion from the foot travel. But after one week, the kidnappers started beating them, threatening to kill them if they did not collect the ransom. Women, including those married, were separated and taken from their husbands and relatives, and probably abducted by the kidnappers. He informed me that 28 of the abductees are still in their hands.
Who Are the Kidnappers?
The kidnappers claimed they are from Oneg Shene (Oromo Liberation Army OLA). OLA is an armed group operating in the Oromia region of Ethiopia for year. The abductors said the reason for the kidnapping was the travelers did not respect the road travel restriction imposed by OLA. As far as I remember, there was no such restriction in place that week. He still could not identify for sure which group the kidnappers are from; what we know for sure is that they are from the Oromia region as they were speaking Oromo and Amharic languages. There are different armed groups in the country. Anyone, including Oneg Shene, government factions, or any militia group, could be responsible. The troubling part is the kidnappers receive the ransom money through the country’s banking system. So, the kidnapping network is complex, possibly involving participation from bank employees, government officials, and armed groups. Either way, I believe the government is accountable as it did not ensure the safety of its citizens.
Why Kidnapping Is Becoming a New Trend in Ethiopia, especially for Amhara Travelers
Kidnapping innocent civilians is becoming a business in Ethiopia, and finding a job is difficult. The kidnappers make easy money or achieve their political goals. Ultimately, it weakens the Amhara population economically, as most kidnappings happen on the road from Amhara to Addis Ababa. It can be another economic war front opened against the Amhara population. Imagine collecting 1 million Ethiopian birr from one poor family already struggling with the current cost of living and inflation, in addition to the ongoing conflict in the region. Most families will sell their homes or anything they have. Even if they’re lucky enough to get their loved ones back, poverty awaits them, which is also another life-and-death survival issue. Furthermore, do not forget that the federal government may also want to discourage ethnic Amhara’s from entering Addis Ababa by using kidnapping as an instrument.
Proposed Solution for the Kidnapping Trend in Ethiopia
The harrowing experience of a family grappling with the kidnapping of their loved one sheds light on the growing threat of abduction in Ethiopia. This disturbing trend not only inflicts immense psychological trauma on the victims and their families but also exacerbates the economic hardships already faced by many in the country. As the perpetrators operate with impunity, exploiting the vulnerabilities of travelers, urgent action is needed to address the root causes of this crisis.
While short-term measures such as avoiding road travel can mitigate immediate risks, I advise people in Ethiopia to avoid traveling by road as much as possible and use air travel instead. I do not want other families to go through the hard times we did. I know air travel is not affordable for many Ethiopians, but if you compare the risk of being kidnapped and paying a ransom if lucky, or losing life, the price difference between a plane ticket and road travel is incomparable. According to Ethiopian Airlines, their local flight income has increased significantly, with the main reason being the insecurity of road travel. The increased income for Ethiopian Airlines is not due to a rise in the number of middle-class individuals but rather because more people have lost trust in the security of road travel. Many transport business owners will be greatly affected. People whose daily lives depend on road travel will also be significantly impacted.
I believe kidnapping is a symptom of the country’s broader economic, social, and political problems. Unless the political and economic situation of the country improves, we will see more suffering among the people. A long-term solution requires comprehensive reforms tackling the country’s economic, social, and political challenges.
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