Militant Attacks Intensify in Kore Zone Amid Security Void
Militant groups are intensifying attacks in the Kore Zone of Ethiopia's South Ethiopia Region, causing significant civilian distress and displacement. Local officials report that federal authorities have failed to provide adequate security, leaving farming communities vulnerable to raids and land abandonment.
Why it matters
The ongoing security vacuum and cross-border violence threaten regional stability and food security in Ethiopia.
(Nairobi, Kenya) — Escalating militant incursions in Gorca District within the Kore Zone of the South Ethiopia Region, alongside an insufficient response from federal security authorities, have created a dire security crisis for local farming communities, according to a report by Addis Maleda.
Gorca District Administrator Melkamu Asfaw and local residents told Addis Maleda that armed militants operating from the neighboring West Guji Zone of the Oromia Region carry out systematic killings, physical assaults, and cattle rustling against civilians.
Residents revealed to Addis Maleda that armed groups issued explicit threats, warning that raids could occur through September 10, 2026. To protect their families and property, community members spend their nights on guard duty. Despite submitting repeated formal grievances to municipal and zonal authorities, residents reported receiving no effective security protection, leaving local agricultural communities in high distress.
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