By-Gatkek Kuajien Chuol

This latest episode of insecurity and extra-judicial killing is the third onslaught since Abiy Ahmed ascended into the highest echelon of Ethiopian politics since 2018. 

But even between those all-out ethnic conflicts, and security incidents, the region has never had genuine peace—where people can truly feel safe and move around freely in all directions of the town, let alone across the entire region. Why? Because sporadic killings here and there have been normalized and have become part of the daily life of helpless regional residents. 

Above all, everyone who ascends to power in the region, as soon as they assume their reign, forgets what brought them to power in the first place: insecurity and the failure of their predecessor to arrest the situation. Once they sit in the coveted regional offices, they forget about criminals and the accused being brought into account—even when the evidences tying them to their crimes is out in the open. 

In June 2022, after the region was invaded by rebel groups like the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF-Shene) and Gambella Liberation Front (GLF), many civilians were recorded being killed extra-judicially. And instead of arresting and prosecuting those individuals, the federal and state authorities went out of their way to arrest some believed to have ordered the killings—while leaving the real culprits, those recorded on video pulling triggers and dragging people on the streets, untouched. Even those who do happen to be arrested and prosecuted, the real players who ordered the extra-judicial killings were left without being held accountable. That is common knowledge among regional folks. But hey, arrest a few—even if they’re innocent—and calm the people’s rage and call for justice down, because what matters is performance, not the actual truth. That is the beauty of democracy, isn’t it? 

And the worst part? The Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation—the national broadcaster—was embroiled in the situation because, in their reporting, they attempted to turn the episode into a way to pit both ethnic groups against each other, “by picking and choosing.” They singled out one accused individual’s charge and read it out on national television, claiming that the accused was recorded giving orders in the Nuer language—even though that specific individual wasn’t in any position to give orders. 

The assertion was protested by many Gambella locals, including students residing in the capital, who went to demonstrate in front of the national broadcasting building. As a result, they were granted an audience with the EBC leadership, which admitted the mistake. But it was—and would have been—a costly mistake. One incident that shows the extent to which these bad elements destabilizing the region have their ways and can reach far and beyond to influence and make their intentions known. 

In 2023 through early 2024, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission conducted its second investigation because of another episode of insecurity that rocked the region along tribal lines, where more than 120 people were recorded being killed. State security apparatus were implicated, including cliques of politicians. Some of the state’s local leaders and politicians even admitted that some of their own played a role. But instead of arresting and investigating them, the accused or suspected were simply moved and switched around to different zones and woredas—like chess pieces on a board—and that was about it. 

When the leadership of the region was assumed by W/ro Alemittu Omot, and Dr. Gatluak Ruon, many people thought the accused and suspected would finally be investigated, prosecuted, and held accountable according to the law. But that never happened. Instead, the incoming leaders went on church-like conference tours and called them “dialogues.” Dialogues that were more of a warm-up matches before settling into the usual routine of occupying regional leadership without asking hard questions or taking serious stands, and measures against the elements that were—and continue—destabilizing the region. 

Also, as much as the players destabilizing the region live within the country and Gambella itself, many are from the diaspora. They exploit tribal mindsets and the poor economic status of many youths in the region. They inflame tribal and ethnic divisions, corrupting vulnerable, uneducated, and helpless civilians through social media campaigns. And even though some could have been held accountable when they return to the country from time to time, they aren’t—because the political environment and the government at the helm are either weak or incompetent and simply don’t know what they are doing. 

That is why the ignorance of accountability continues breeding insecurity. Bad elements and criminals are emboldened, often hunting people in the middle of towns using state property like police cars and uniforms—without even bothering to disguise themselves. Why would they? Scores have been killed, and though the killers are known, they never see the inside of a prison cell. And if they do get arrested, it’s only a matter of two or three months before they are released and continue terrorizing helpless folks—including those who naively revealed their faces for the sake of asking for accountability to be done, and the betterment of the whole region. 

But what politicians and leaders—past, present, or incoming—should know is this: accountability, asking hard questions, and taking brave stands cannot be skipped. Otherwise, the door of Gambella’s leadership and politics will remain a revolving door, and violence and insecurity will always be used by opportunists as a way to oust incumbents for their selfish needs—without any regard for how many civilians will be lost senselessly along the way. 

One thing the inhabitants of Gambella—especially both Nuer and Anuak—should know is this: when insecurity and conflict erupt between these two ethnic groups, don’t expect some kind of savior to fall from above—from the highland areas, from Addis Ababa—by the name of the Federal Government. It should be clear by now that Addis Ababa has its hands full with problems sparking from all directions. And even when it doesn’t, Gambella and its small ethnic population aren’t the kind of smoking gun that would make Addis Ababa worry—because its inhabitants don’t know how to get their acts together and live as brothers and sisters. 

Maybe it’s about time we grow a pair of balls and get our acts together, because ain’t no one is coming to help us sort out our differences. And if we are not going to open our eyes, be smart enough to read between the lines in regards to the contemporary Ethiopian shifting political arena—the land we are fighting over, in the name of ownership, will one day be walked into by outsiders while asking, “Whose land did this use to be?” Because there wouldn’t be anyone left from the indigenous communities to protest the incoming. 

Gatkek Kuajien Chuol, is a Former Academic, Human Rights and Social Equality Advocate. He an Author of the Book, “Ethiopia, Gambella and Ethnic Federalism: A Tragedy or Blessing?” 

He relocated and now resides in Melbourne, Australia, and can be reached out through his personal email address: gatkekkuajien@gmail.com