Over 45 killed in Oromia’s North Shewa zone, including Wacale district administrator

Addis Abeba – More than 45 individuals, including Nigussie Koru, the administrator of Wacale district in Oromia’s North Shewa Zone, were reportedly killed by armed assailants early on Friday, 01 November, 2024, sources told the BBC.

A local resident, speaking anonymously for security reasons, informed the BBC that the violence allegedly broke out early Friday morning amid escalating clashes between government forces and fighters believed to be from the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA).

The district administrator, Nigussie Koru, along with several government security personnel, was reportedly ambushed by armed groups while en route to address security concerns in the area, leading to an exchange of gunfire, according to the resident.

The North Shewa Zone Prosperity Party Office confirmed that Nigussie was “shot dead while traveling to Kara area to monitor the security situation,” attributing the attack to “the OLF-Shane group,” a term used by the government to refer to the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA).

The Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) has not issued any statement concerning the incident.

According to the North Shewa Zone administration, Nigussie Koru had previously served as the administrator of Alaltuu district and was appointed Wacale’s administrator just two weeks before the incident.

In its statement, the Prosperity Party Office expressed “condolences” over Nugusee’s death and extended “support to his family and relatives.”

This incident is part of a series of targeted assassinations of officials in the Oromia region amid an ongoing six-year conflict between the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) and government forces.

On June 20, 2023, Bekele Kacha, the administrator of the Saden Sodo district in the Southwest Shoa Zone, was shot by an unidentified armed group.

Earlier, on June 8, 2023, Abdissa Keneni, deputy administrator of the Ada Barga district in West Shoa Zone, was killed by armed men near his house in Bekate town.

In March 2023, Desalegn Bokonja, head of the ruling Prosperity Party (PP) office in East Wollega Zone in Western Oromia, was shot dead outside his residence in Nekemte city in what the communication office described as “an attack by unknown assailants.”

This militarized conflict has resulted in significant loss of civilian life, alleged human rights abuses, and extensive disruption to civilian communities throughout the region. AS