Retaliatory Attacks in Ethiopia's Oromia Region Leave 29 Dead Following Killing of OLA Figure

•Civilians Targeted in Haro Limu District as Residents Blame Oromo Liberation Army for Reprisal Killings

Haro Limu, Oromia Region, Ethiopia| At least 29 civilians were killed in a wave of violent attacks between 07 and 12 April in Haro Limu district, East Wollega Zone of Ethiopia’s Oromia region, in what local residents describe as retaliatory assaults by armed fighters linked to the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA).

The bloodshed comes days after Ethiopian government forces killed a high-profile OLA associate, escalating tensions in a region already marred by protracted conflict.

Background: The Killing of an OLA Figure Sparks Unrest

The violence erupted following a military operation on 04 April, in which the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) announced the killing of an individual identified only as Shode, described as a close associate of OLA leader Kumsa Diriba, also known as Jaal Marroo.

While authorities framed the operation as a counterinsurgency success, residents say it triggered a brutal backlash.

Wave of Attacks: Civilians Targeted in Suspected Retaliation

According to multiple accounts from victims’ relatives and local sources who spoke to Addis Standard, armed groups believed to be OLA fighters carried out systematic attacks against civilians allegedly accused of involvement in Shode’s death.

First Attack (07 April): In Gorba Guddina kebele, five members of a single family—known locally as the Hirpo family—were abducted and executed, including a 12-year-old boy. A resident, who requested anonymity for security reasons, stated that the fighters accused the family of harboring “a suspected defector from OLA.”
Second Attack (12 April): Five more relatives of the Hirpo family were killed, three of whom were children under the age of 11. Survivors have reportedly fled the area, fearing further violence.

Other attacks across the district claimed additional lives, bringing the total death toll to at least 29, though exact figures remain difficult to verify due to restricted access and communication blackouts in the area.

Local Reactions: Fear, Displacement, and Calls for Justice

The killings have sown terror among residents, many of whom accuse OLA of exacting revenge on civilians with tenuous or no proven links to Shode’s death.

“They are punishing entire families for something they had no part in,” said one distraught local, echoing widespread frustration over the targeting of non-combatants.

Humanitarian conditions are deteriorating, with reports of mass displacement as villagers seek refuge in nearby towns.

However, with limited media and aid access to the conflict-ridden zone, the full scale of the crisis remains unclear.

OLA and Government Responses

Neither the OLA nor Ethiopian federal authorities have issued official statements regarding the alleged retaliatory killings.

The OLA, which operates as an armed opposition group and is designated a “terrorist organization” by the government, has previously denied targeting civilians, instead accusing state forces and allied militias of atrocities.

Meanwhile, the ENDF maintains that its operations are aimed at dismantling “armed insurgents” and restoring stability.

However, rights groups have repeatedly documented abuses by all sides in Oromia’s complex conflict, which has displaced hundreds of thousands and fueled ethnic tensions.

Broader Context: Escalating Conflict in Oromia

The Oromia region has been a flashpoint for violence for years, with clashes involving government troops, OLA fighters, and at times, inter-ethnic militias.

The latest bloodshed underscores the cyclical nature of retaliatory violence, where military operations against rebel figures frequently trigger reprisals against civilians.

International observers have called for independent investigations into alleged war crimes and greater protection for civilians, but accountability remains elusive amid ongoing hostilities.