Ethiopian Children Still Missing After Cross-Border Raid

Addis Ababa: Dozens of children are still missing after a cross-border raid on villages in the Gambela region of western Ethiopia by South Sudanese tribesmen.

                            

Attackers from South Sudan’s Merle tribe killed 208 Ethiopian villagers, abducted 133 children and stole more than 1,000 cattle last month. Around 50 of the children have been released after negotiations with the tribesmen by the South Sudanese government but securing the release of the others is proving difficult.

The Ethiopian government has already conducted a cross-border military operation to free the remaining children. The government officials said that they may conduct further military operations if the abducted children are not released.

Ten-year-old Gache Debol was trying to rescue his younger sister when he was taken. His sister is still missing. “I thought they were going to kill me,” he told Al Jazeera. “I tried to escape a few times but they caught me and they beat me. I thought I would never see my family again,” the kid added.

Villagers are still asking exactly who was responsible for the attacks, carried out by about 2,000 armed men.

The Merle tribesmen are feared for their cattle raids against other tribes in the area.  But the Ethiopian government has said that this time the attackers from the tribe were wearing South Sudanese military uniforms and carrying what looked like new AK-47 rifles. The South Sudanese government has denied any responsibility and is working with Ethiopia to rescue the dozens of children still missing.