The Amhara Nationalism movement (Aben) has reported that attacks targeting Amhara communities in the Central Ethiopia Region—particularly in Gurage Zone and Abeshge Woreda—as well as in surrounding areas of the Oromia Region, are being supported or facilitated by local government officials.

Aben made the statement in a release issued yesterday, Friday, following a series of recent attacks and killings targeting Amhara civilians in the Oromia Region and Abeshge Woreda.

BBC Amharic reported, citing witnesses, that more than 10 civilians were killed in a recent attack on September 14 in the small town of Walga, in Abeshge Woreda. According to the report, more than 20 people were also kidnapped in the attack, in addition to those who were killed.

Temesgen Kassa, head of the Central Ethiopia Regional State Peace and Security Bureau, said a team had been dispatched to the area to investigate the extent of the damage caused by the attack. He added that the team had not yet completed its investigation or submitted a report.

Aben said the victims of the attack were ethnic Amhara residents who had lived in the area for several generations. It said the attacks were intended to “expand territorial boundaries and seize wealth and property.” It said that after residents were forcibly displaced from areas they had lived in along the borders of the Oromia Region, particularly in the West Shewa and Southwest Shewa zones, their land and property were subsequently distributed to officials and allied businesspeople.

The party described this as “a plot to take control of Abeshge Woreda and incorporate it into the Oromia Region.”