An artillery strike in the East Gojjam zone of Ethiopia’s Amhara region has left a 19-year-old girl dead and several others wounded, according to local residents and eyewitnesses. The attack took place on Saturday in the town of Debre’e Eyesus.
Community members identified the victim as Serawit Bewuket. Her younger brother, Aman Bewuket, suffered life-threatening injuries when an artillery shell hit their family home and remains hospitalized. Sources speaking anonymously also reported that Etagegne Degefaw and a 79-year-old nun were among those wounded in the attack.
Residents Point to Government Forces
Local residents directly attributed the shelling to Ethiopian government forces, specifically identifying the 6th Command and the 602nd Corps as the units involved in Saturday’s strike on residential areas. These accounts, shared by individuals who requested anonymity due to safety concerns, have not been independently verified, largely because of restricted access to the conflict-affected zones.
Notably, the attack occurred on the local market day, a weekly event that typically draws residents from ten surrounding district kebeles into the area. Witnesses said artillery fire hit homes in both Kuye and Debre Eyesus towns.
As of this report, neither Ethiopia’s Federal Government Communication Ministry nor the Ethiopian Defense Force had issued a response regarding the civilian casualties.
Military Confirms Expanded Operations in the Region
Separately, the Ethiopian Defense Force issued a statement on Tuesday confirming it is ramping up military operations across East and West Gojjam, describing the effort as necessary “to ensure peace and stability in the region.”
According to the military, new operations launched this week have targeted alleged “enemy hideouts” spanning numerous locations, including Chokie, Bokela Tadagi, Kegne Abo, Debrezeit, Amestya, Kabo, Washa Michael, Korta, Senan Mariam, Mestawot, Korebta, Fiktar, Genet Mariam, Kuchit, and the Chokie mountain range.
Military officials described the campaign as a decisive push intended to dismantle networks linked to armed opposition groups. Officials also said troop divisions from surrounding areas have been coordinated to prevent opposing fighters from escaping and to cut off their supply lines, claiming significant losses were inflicted on opposing forces without disclosing specific numbers.
Fano forces, an armed opposition group active in the region, have not issued a public response to the reported incident.
Background on the Conflict
Fighting in the Amhara region has continued since August 2023, when Ethiopia’s federal government declared a state of emergency, initially framing it as a short-term military effort to disarm Fano fighters. The conflict remains ongoing nearly three years later.
International rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, have documented widespread abuses throughout the region since the fighting began, including drone strikes, artillery bombardment, and extrajudicial killings. The Ethiopian Defense Force has repeatedly denied allegations that it targets civilians.
Source: Borkena News — Read the original report
