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 Semien Shewa Zone of the Amhara Region, this town has a longitude and latitude of with an elevation of ...

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 ( amh, ባሕር ዳር, 3=sea shore) 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 ci ...

Weldiya Weldiya or Woldia () is a town, woreda, and capital of the North Wollo Zone in northern Ethiopia. Located north of Dessie and southeast of Lalibela in the Amhara Region, this town has an elevation of 2112 meters above sea level. A notable landma ...

Finote Selam Finote Selam (Amharic: ፍኖተ ሰላም) is a town and separate 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 air, the distance from Add ...

Dessie Dessiè City which is politically oppressed by the past Ethiopian government systems due to the fact that most of the population follow Islamic religion. Dessie ( am, ደሴ, Däse; also spelled Dese or Dessye) is a town in north-central Ethiopia ...

Debre Berhan Debre Birhan () is a city in central Ethiopia. Located in the Semien Shewa Zone of Amhara Region, about 120 kilometers north east of Addis Ababa on Ethiopian highway 2, the town has an elevation of 2,840 meters, which makes it the highest to ...

, and

Debre Marqos Debre Markos ( am, ደብረ ማርቆስ, Däbrä Marḳos lit: ''Mount of St. Mark'') is a city, separate woreda, and administrative seat of the East Gojjam Zone in Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Etymology Originally named Manqwarar (lit: Cold Place ...

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 called the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund in full, now officially United Nations Children's Fund, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing Humanitarianism, humanitarian and Devel ...

and the

Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency ( sv, Styrelsen för internationellt utvecklingssamarbete, ) is a government agency of the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Sida is responsible for organization of the bulk of Swede ...

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

{{Ethiopian civil conflict (2018–present) 2021 crimes in Ethiopia Massacres in 2021 Massacres in Ethiopia Mass murder in 2021 Ethnic cleansing Conflicts in 2021 Battles in 2021 Ethiopian civil conflict (2018–present)