Ethiopia: Somali regional state President decries deadly Gashamo violence

JIGJIGA, Ethiopia-Ethiopian Somali regional State President Abdi Mohamud Omar has decried a deadly incident in Gashamo village, near Ethiopia’s eastern border with breakaway Somaliland, Garowe Online reports. 

Omar called a skirmish between security forces and armed locals “unfortunate”, blaming irresponsible elements for trying to free a truck loaded with contraband by force. 

While acknowledging that he was away for Australia when the violence flared up, Somali regional state President chastised the media for failing to toe objective reporting regarding Gashamo violence. 

Ethiopian Somali authorities had already set up a fact-finding committee, Omar added during an interview for the Somali Program of Australia’s SBS. According to unconfirmed media reports, 21 people were killed after Liyu Police paramilitary units clashed with local militia.

GAROWEONLINE