At Least 47 People Died Due To Escalation Of Interethnic Conflict In Ethiopia - Reports

MOSCOW, Dec 26 (Bernama-Sputnik/RIA Novosti) -- At least 47 people have been killed since Wednesday as a result of the escalation of conflict between the Anuak and Nuer peoples in the Gambella region of western Ethiopia, reported Sputnik/RIA Novosti, citing Ethiopian news portal Addis Standard.

The death toll is preliminary and may not reflect the true scale of the conflict, as it may not include people killed in the fires that started in the city, the report said on Thursday.

International charity Doctors Without Borders previously said that its medical centres in Gambella treated more than 100 patients with gunshot wounds in the past 24 hours.

The Nuer and Anuak peoples are Nilotic and speak related languages, but they represent distinct ethnic groups. The Anuak's discontent stems from the number of Nuer who fled to Gambella from South Sudan and the need to cede land for refugee camps. The Nuer, in turn, claim they are underrepresented in the province's political arena, where the Nuer outnumber the Anuak two to one. Rivalry between Anuak farmers and Nuer herders over land also fuels ongoing tensions between the two ethnic groups.

The interethnic conflict erupted on December 10 after the assassination of the Gambella police chief. The death of the high-ranking police officer, an Anuak, sparked widespread clashes and gunfire. In response, the government imposed a curfew. After a brief lull, clashes resumed on December 24. Authorities banned firearms in the region for all but law enforcement officers.

--BERNAMA-SPUTNIK/RIA NOVOSTI