Kidnapping in Ethiopia

This item appears on page 20 of the June 2016 issue.

At least 108 women and children were kidnapped and 208 people were killed in southwestern Ethiopia on April 16 when a group of armed men crossed into Ethiopia from South Sudan and attacked a community in Gambella Province. The Ethiopian military pursued the attackers, reportedly killing 60 of them.

Ethiopian authorities blamed the attack on the Murle tribe of South Sudan, who, in the past, they have accused of crossing the border to raid livestock and kidnap children. The Murle tribe has no association with the South Sudan government, armed forces or any of the rebel groups in the country.