Attack in southern Ethiopia leaves 13 dead

Thirteen people, including five civilians, were killed in an attack by unknown assailants in the far south of Ethiopia, local authorities said on Thursday.

The three-day attack, which began late on August 17, took place in Segen district in Konso region. The attackers “killed eight policemen and five civilians,” said Serawit DibabaSpokesperson for the local communications department.

“The extremist group fled the affected area after the attack,” he said AFPwithout providing any further information about the perpetrators.

Serawit said the group had previously committed “various crimes, including murder and arson” and was responsible for the murder of a police officer last month.

“Security forces are patrolling the area and conducting operations to bring the remnants of the extremist force under control,” he added.

The Konso Zone Government Communications Office also confirmed the death toll in a Facebook post late Wednesday.

The attackers set fire to and destroyed numerous government buildings, including the district administration building, a police station and a conference hall, and also destroyed generators.

Other items, including hospital equipment and service vehicles, were also looted, it said.

The region has seen deadly violence several times in the past, and in 2022, an intercommunal conflict displaced about 37,000 people, according to a UN report at the time.