Video of civilians burned alive sparks anger in Ethiopia
- Video shows armed men dragging then burning three people in civilian clothing in Guba area of the northwestern Benishangul-Gumuz region
- Ethiopia has been struggling to contain ethnic-based attacks, especially after the Tigray war erupted in November 2020
Ethiopian authorities say they will prosecute individuals seen in a gruesome video in which armed men appear to burn at least three people alive.
The video, shared widely on social media since Friday, has sparked anger among many in this country facing war in its northern region as well as ethnic strife in other parts.
The Ethiopian Government Communication Service confirmed the incident – in which armed men drag and then burn three people in civilian clothing – took place in the Guba area of the northwestern Benishangul-Gumuz region.
“The video that circulated on social media depicts a very gruesome and inhumane act,” it said. “Whatever their motive is, the government will prosecute those who committed the horrible crime.”
Authorities did not say when the incident happened. It also was not immediately clear if any suspects had been taken into custody.
The Associated Press was not able to verify the authenticity of the video.
Tigray’s leaders, who are fighting federal forces and their allies, charged that the burning victims were ethnic Tigrayans, describing the incident as “barbaric” in a statement on Saturday. They accused “Amhara expansionists and their cronies” of carrying out atrocities against ethnic Tigrayans living in Benishangul-Gumuz.