The 2021 Ataye clashes were two episodes of large-scale ethnic violence killing hundreds in and around the Ethiopian town of Ataye, leading to nearly a quarter of the town being destroyed and hundreds of thousands displaced.

Background

Clashes erupted in the region in April 2019, with the violence eventually being suppressed by ENDF troops.

March clashes

On 18 March 2021, clashes broke out in the town of Ataye. The clashes started when Amhara special forces shot a person on the steps of the mosque in the town, then quickly spread with Oromo and Amhara militia taking up arms against each other. The clashes spread through the countryside and eventually reached the town of

Kemise Kemise (; ) is a town and administrative seat of the Oromia Zone in the Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Kemise is northeast of the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa and has a latitude and longitude of with an elevation of 1424 meters above sea level. It ...

, where more damage was done. In one attack mobs of people attacked an ambulance in

Shewa Robit Shewa Robit (Amharic: ሸዋ ሮቢት)also known as Robi, Shah Robit, Shoa Robit or Robit is a town in north-central Ethiopia. Located in the North Shewa Zone of the Amhara Region, this town has a longitude and latitude of with an elevation of 1 ...

coming from Ataye killing 12 people on 21 March. The clashes continued for 2 weeks leading to the deaths of 303 people and 269 people being injured as well as 1,539 homes being burned. 50,000 people were displaced during the fighting.

April clashes

On 16 April, clashes erupted this time centered in the town of Ataye, where hundreds of people were killed. Suspected OLA forces wearing army uniforms would clash with Amhara regional forces leading to the death of at least 14 of them. Clashes continued and mass killings and door-to-door massacres were common. By the end of the clashes, about 281 people had been killed and 197 injured in Ataye. 3,073 buildings were destroyed, making up nearly a quarter of all houses in the town, and about 328,000 people were displaced due to the fighting.

Reactions

Protests in Amhara were held in response to the ethnic clashes in Ataye and the targeting of Amhara people. Demonstrations broke out on 19 April, in

Bahir Dar Bahir Dar () is the capital city of Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Bahir Dar is one of the leading tourist destinations in Ethiopia, with a variety of attractions in the nearby Lake Tana and Blue Nile river. The city is known for its wide avenues li ...

Weldiya Weldiya or Woldia () is a town, woreda, and capital of the North Wollo Zone in the Amhara Region in northern Ethiopia. It has an elevation of 2112 meters above sea level and is surrounded by Guba Lafto woreda. Both are located north of Dessie an ...

Finote Selam Finote Selam (Amharic: ፍኖተ ሰላም) is a town and separate Districts of Ethiopia, woreda in western Ethiopia. Located in the Mirab Gojjam Zone of the Amhara Region, by road 387 km from Addis Ababa and 176 km from Bahir Dar. By ai ...

Dessie Dessie (; also spelled Dese or Dessye) is a town in north-central Ethiopia. Located in the South Wollo Zone of the Amhara Region, it sits at a latitude and longitude of , with an elevation between 2,470 and 2,550 metres above sea level. Dessie ...

, Debre Berhan, and

Debre Marqos Debre Markos () is a city, separate woreda, and administrative seat of the East Gojjam Zone in Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Etymology Originally named Manqwarar (lit: Cold Place), the town was founded in 1853 by Dejazmach Tedla Gwalu, the then rul ...

Relief efforts

With an estimated $32,700,000 USD in damage to the town of Ataye, the task of rebuilding is considered enormous. Humanitarian efforts began almost immediately with

UNICEF UNICEF ( ), originally the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, officially United Nations Children's Fund since 1953, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing Humanitarianism, humanitarian and Development a ...

and the

Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (, ) is a government agency of the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Sida is responsible for organization of the bulk of Sweden's official development assistance to developing coun ...

providing cash grants to people who lost their homes during the fighting. Priority was given to mothers, the elderly, and the disabled. People were given $35 USD for each member of their family. In total, $41,000 USD was given out to start the rebuilding process.

References

{{Oromo conflict 2021 murders in Ethiopia Massacres in 2021 Massacres of the OLA insurgency Ethnic conflicts Conflicts in 2021 Attacks on mosques in Ethiopia Massacres of Amhara people History of the Amhara Region Arson in Ethiopia Arson in 2021 2021 fires in Africa Mosque shootings Attacks on buildings and structures in 2021 March 2021 in Ethiopia April 2021 in Ethiopia March 2021 crimes in Africa April 2021 crimes in Africa 21st-century attacks on mosques