Ethiopian shifta kill, injure eastern Sudanese in El Gedaref

On Wednesday, a man was killed and four others were injured in an attack by Ethiopian gunmen at the Sudanese-Ethiopian border in El Gedaref.

Speaking to Radio Dabanga from Wad Kouli at the border of El Gureisha locality and Ethiopia, a listener reported that “Ethiopian shifta (gunmen*)” intercepted a group of people in the area on Wednesday. “They shot at them, killing one and injuring four others.”

The attack coincided with the celebrations of the first anniversary of the December revolution. “It happened not far from the ceremony in El Gureisha, attended by the Executive Director and members of the Security Committee of the locality.”

The source explained that medical personnel in El Gureisha managed to transport the wounded to El Gedaref Teaching Hospital and the Military Hospital in El Gedaref town.

He pointed to other attacks by Ethiopian gunmen during the past few days, and called on the authorities to intervene to contain the situation.

Earlier this month, Radio Dabanga reported that angry protestors blocked the main border between Sudan and Ethiopia at El Gallabat in El Gedaref in protest against the repeated assaults, kidnappings, and cattle rustling by shifta in the area.

* Shifta is a term used throughout East Africa for a rebel, gunman, or bandit.

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