In a statement sent to Curate Oromia, the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) accused the Ethiopian government of deliberately targeting civilians in several areas in Western and Central Oromia. Indiscriminate areal bombings by the Ethiopian airforce in the towns of Mandi, Bila, and Nunu Qamba in Wallaga, Western Oromia; Metta Walikte, Minare, and Chobi in West Shewa; and Fantale district in East Shewa has resulted in the death of hundreds of civilians, including school children, the statement said. The OLF called on the United Nations Human Rights Council to launch an investigation into these killings.
Full statement:
𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲’𝐬 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐂𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐊𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐲𝐚.
In Western Oromiya, the Prosperity Party, which is single-handedly controlling the political and security structures of the Government of Ethiopia, is barbarically and irresponsibly intensifying civilian massacre.
On November 09, 2022, its air force deployed a Mig-29 fighter jet to western Oromiya and bombarded two places in Mandi town and the suburbs around Dalatti in a round of four attacks. Our reliable sources indicate that the bombs used on civilians can cover a 600m radius, where there is an absolute chance of destroying massive civilian installations and lives nearby. Credible sources indicate that more than 100 people were injured, most of them killed. This is not the first of its kind. We kindly remind the peace-loving citizens and the International Community of our earlier reports on similar barbaric killings.
On November 02, 2022, a similar air raid, targeting civilian areas, killed more than 80 people in Bila town of western Wollega, an informer told the BBC Afaan Oromo, besides our reports. AP local informant reported that he saw ‘bodies scattered on the ground, hit by ‘small flying plane’ indicating a drone attack against the civilians; the actual attack was Mig air bombing. Our sources from Bila confirm that the attack was conducted at the exact time when students were released from school. AP’s reports validate that dozens of 11th-grade students were among the victims. The latest reports, which we are working on to validate, unveil a list of 129 individuals as victims.
On October 20, 2022, the Federal Government Airforce conducted an air raid in West Showa Zone, Metta Walikte District, and Minare town, 80 km from Finfinnee, and killed and injured more than 70 innocent civilians. Among the victims are three people from a single family. A similar air raid has taken more than 60 lives in Chobi, western Shoa.
October 23, 2022, a Mig-29 air raid in Eastern Showa Zone, Fantalle District; Western Showa Zone, Metta Waliqite, and Gindeberet Districts; and Eastern Wollega Zone Nunnu Qumba District killed and wounded several civilians. In many of these places, houses and other belongings of the victims, especially livestock, which are the basis of their livelihoods, were severely destroyed.
Oromo Liberation Front
Finfinnee, November 10, 2022.