Ahmed Abdurahman Gurmu, affectionately known as Amadee, was born and raised in Shambu town, Horro Guduru Wollega of Oromia. Later, Amadee moved to Jardega Jarte woreda Alibo town after getting married as a young adult. He lived in Alibo town for the rest of his life, more than five decades. Amadee had five biological children and five adopted children, whom he raised as his own. Amadee was one of the most well-known and successful businessmen of his time in the Horro region. A community leader, faith leader, public servant, and an entrepreneur, Amadee wore many hats during his adult life.
OLLAA staff recently spoke with Ahmed’s family about his killing and that of others by Amahara extremist armed groups called Fano. On the morning of November 15th 2022, Ahmed was at his residence in Alibo town with his wife and his youngest adopted son. Most of the residents of Alibo had evacuated the town as of mid-September due to a civil war. Ahmed and a few other families decided to stay in their homes. Among those who stayed were his brother-in-law, Mohammad Faris, Mohammad’s wife, and some friends and neighbors. However, this resulted in their killing at their own home in the broad daylight.
When neighbors heard that the Fano militias had entered the town, many went to Ahmed’s house. Ahmed and Mohammad, with two other men, Aliyyu Negeri and Jamal Goshu, made a quick decision to hide the women and children in preparation to defend them. They locked the women and children in one of the rooms. Within a few minutes, the house was raided by the militia. There was no time for residents to prepare or respond. The militias walked by hundreds of houses after entering the town, killing any men who crossed their path, and went to Ahmed’s house.
The militia forced the men out of the house with guns to their heads. A few minutes after they left, the women who remained locked in the house heard multiple gun shots nearby. Militia members shot and killed all four men a few meters from Ahmed’s home and left their bodies lying on the ground. They then returned to the house and took the women and children to Jardega town, about 20 km away, where Fano was stationed at the time. These women, Waliya Gurmu, Rammate Faris, and Hawwa Goshu were not told about their husbands’ deaths until several days later.
The abducted women and children were held captive for four weeks under the control of Fano leaders in Jardega town. A month later, the women escaped in the night after the militia had left to fight the OLA, which was closing in at the time. Waliya and the other women walked all the way to Sekela town, about 25 km away, where they were met by the local police and arrested under suspension. Later, they were released when locals who had known about their husbands’ murders went to the police station to testify on their behalf.
According to sources, the perpetrators did not come from far. These were men from Jardega and Jarte who identified themselves as ethnically Amharas and lived in different parts of the woreda for decades. They were neighbors and members of the community, both Muslims and Christians whom Amadee himself had helped in many different ways. They organized themselves across Horro Guduru and East Wollega Zone with the help of Fano militia from the Amhara region and other parts of the country. Other individuals murdered in cold blood on November 15th were:
- Adugna Zowde (community leader)
- Fekadu Indalow “Badhusa” (businessman and photographer)
- Shuba Fufa (teacher)
- Oljira Wirtu
- Lamessa Dhinsa (Farmer) – killed with his son.
- Desalegn Dhinsa (Lamessa’s son and a teacher)
The source also said the whole town of Alibo was burned to ground by these forces. Thousands of people who were displaced due to the attack have not returned to their homes to date. OLLAA has covered this and Agamsa attack in its previous reports.
International Law
Under international human rights laws, a government has the primary duty to respect and protect the rights of those who live under its jurisdiction. It is therefore the Ethiopian government’s duty to ensure the protection of rights against violations committed by both State actors and by individuals or groups. In particular, the government is duty bound to protect its citizens from non-state armed groups. It is also the government’s duty to make the perpetrators accountable and serve justice. The right to life, freedom of movement, the right to housing, and the right to property are the internationally recognized rights violated in this connection. These rights are guaranteed under UDHR, ICCPR, ACHPR and Ethiopian national laws.