ADDIS ABABA, (Xinhua) — Inter-clan clashes in Ethiopia’s Southern Regional State has left 43 people dead since September, state affiliated media outlet Fana Broadcasting Corporate (FBC) reported on Tuesday.
In a press statement, Police Commission of Southern Regional State, said deadly inter-clan clashes in Gurage zone of the region since September has left 43 people dead and more than 32,000 displaced.
The deadly clashes involved the Mesqan and Mareqo clans of Gurage ethnic group, reported FBC.
The Police Commission said it has arrested 69 people, including local government officials suspected of involvement in the deadly inter-clan clashes.
The commission added an arrest warrant has been issued for another 115 individuals suspected of involvement in the inter-clan clashes in Gurage zone.
Ethiopia follows an ethnic federalism model, which has been credited with giving self-governance rights to more than 80 ethnic groups that make up the country’s estimated 100 million people.
However, critics claim that the ethnic federalism model magnifies ethnic diversity at the expense of national unity, leading to occasional ethnic tension and clashes.
Source: Xinhua
