Not Somalis: Several decomposing bodies of Ethiopians retrieved in Zambia

LUSAKA, Zambia - Authorities in Zambia have retrieved several bodies of immigrants who were initially thought to be Somalis given their physical identities, around the outskirts of the capital Lusaka, in what could trigger heightened surveillance around the borders.

Initially, Zambian media reported that the number of bodies retrieved was around 40 by counting but police in the country have since established that the bodies were about 27. They were dumped by unknown individuals around the Ngwerere area in the country.

Upon retrieval, police said, one person was found conscious and has since been admitted to a local hospital in Zambia where he's recuperating. Most of the victims are said to make Africans with light skin, physical attributions of people from the Horn of Africa.

Mohamud Mohamed alias Hiiraan, the Chairperson of the Somalis living in Zambia, confirmed that the victims come from Ethiopia and not Somalia as earlier thought. According to him, the Zambian Police Services had already done verification and established that indeed they were from Ethiopia.

"For and on behalf of Zambia Somalia Friendship Association, we would like to pass our condolences to the families of the Ethiopian Nationals who have been found dead this morning on a road in Lusaka’s Meanwood Khosi Area," he said in a statement which was published by Zambia Reports media network.

"We have established this information through a report from Zambia Police Services," he added without revealing whether the police were able to retrieve identification documents of the deceased persons or they interrogated the survivor.

The immigrants are said to have died due to " suffocation" having been bundled into a container from their country to the destination. In most cases, a container is used to hide them from cross-border scrutiny in countries they travel to on a journey that takes several days.

Sunday's incident is not isolated since about two years ago, several bodies of Ethiopians were also retrieved in Mozambique in a container that they were traveling in with survivors confirming that they were running away from the Horn of Africa nation which is struggling with instability.

Ethiopia is undergoing internal challenges including but not limited to the ongoing Tigray conflict which has left thousands of people dead. Inter-clan conflicts are also escalating especially in the Oromia region where Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed hails from and to date, a long-term solution is yet to be found.

GAROWE ONLINE