Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Addis Standard
Published on 2024-03-07 10:45:15
The Gardula Zone Council in the Southern Ethiopia region has strongly condemned the kidnapping of 285 laborers by armed groups in the neighboring Amhara region. The council has called on relevant authorities to work towards the safe return of the kidnapped citizens.
The incident took place as a group of 285 laborers from the Gardula and Ale Zones in Southern Ethiopia were traveling to work on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. They were kidnapped by extremist armed groups in the Amhara region, according to the Council.
The Chairman of the Council, Birhanu Kunalo, stated that the kidnapping occurred after the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation issued a tender for forest clearance works, which involved cutting trees in the area designated for the artificial lake of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. The tender was awarded to Nikotka Construction and Trading Pvt. Ltd., which then signed an agreement with the Labor and Social Affairs Office of Derashe District in Gardula Zone to hire employees for the tree-cutting tasks.
A total of 285 laborers, including 246 individuals from Derashe district and 39 individuals from Ale Zone, were assembled and provided with transportation to the worksite in the Amhara region. However, upon reaching the region, the laborers were kidnapped by armed groups operating within the area. The exact circumstances of the kidnapping remain unclear at this time.
The Gardula Zone Council denounced the incident, emphasizing that the laborers were innocent citizens traveling to contribute their labor to the development of the Renaissance Dam project. They stated that the workers had the right to work and travel as laborers without any specific mission other than employment.
Although the council did not specify when the recruitment took place or the precise time of the kidnapping, video footage showing the laborers being taken to unknown locations by armed fighters has been widely shared on social media platforms. The Council also criticized the dissemination of misinformation and irresponsible claims regarding the workers’ situation.
In response to the incident, the Gardula Zone Council has urged all relevant authorities and parties to work towards ensuring the safe return of the kidnapped citizens to their home villages through peaceful means. The council’s primary concern is the well-being and safety of the laborers who were taken captive.
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