Armed men have abducted dozens of bus passengers in Oromia, Ethiopia’s largest region, while they were traveling from the capital, Addis Ababa. Information about the kidnappings, which occurred earlier this week, is only now becoming available. The incident took place in Ali Doro, near an area where around 100 university students were also abducted by armed men last July. The abduction of the students was attributed to the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), a rebel group operating in the area. The OLA denied involvement at the time.
The OLA has stated that it has received reports of this week’s incident and is conducting an investigation. According to local reports, the passengers were traveling to Debre Markos, a town in the country’s Amhara region, when they were attacked by the armed men, resulting in at least one death and the abduction of up to 50 individuals. The government has not yet addressed the kidnappings, and BBC attempts to get an official response have been unsuccessful. Abductions of civilians, including passengers, have become more frequent in the area, with armed groups demanding ransoms for their release.
The OLA’s stated goal is the self-determination of Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group, the Oromo. The federal parliament has classified the OLA as a terrorist organization, and it operates in various areas in Oromia, including the district where Ali Doro is located.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqjd1w5jnx0o
