ONM-ABO, March 26, 2025
Ethiopian government forces killed one civilian and wounded another during a military operation in Galabee Buusaa village, Sirka district of East Arsi region on March 24, 2025. The victim, Hassan Adam Haji Abdullah, was reportedly shot by soldiers during the incident.
According to local residents, the military action occurred following an engagement between government forces and Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) fighters earlier that day. Witnesses report that government soldiers subsequently opened fire in the civilian area.
The incident has drawn criticism from community members who accuse government troops of:
- Indiscriminate use of force against civilians
- Property destruction including house burnings
- Systematic looting of civilian possessions
Local sources describe a pattern of military operations targeting farming communities under the pretext of counterinsurgency. “Soldiers regularly enter our homes claiming to search for OLA members, but it’s ordinary civilians who suffer the consequences,” one resident stated.
The Ethiopian government has not yet commented on this specific incident. However, critics argue these operations reflect broader systemic issues in the government’s counterinsurgency approach in Oromia region.
