Gumuz Militia (Ethiopia)

Country: Ethiopia
Details of Formation: The TPLF regime organized the Gumuz to attack and kill Oromos
Details of Termination: --
Purpose: The Gumuz Militia was created to weaken the Oromos as part of the TPLF regime’s “divide and rule” policy aimed at undermining the population’s fight for freedom. This resulted in demographic changes in parts of the country.
Organisation: The militia received orders from the government, though there is no detailed information on leadership or the chain of command.
Weapons and Training: According to news reports, the TPFL regime provided weapons and training to the Gumuz militia. Based on this information, the militia was armed with AK-47 and heavy machine guns, making it more heavily armed than some local police.
Size: --
Reason for Membership: Members were recruited based on their ethnicity, with the Gumuz ethnic group being mobilised against Oromos.
Treatment of Civilians: Civilians, specifically Oromos, were heavily attacked by the Gumuz militia, leading to deaths, injuries, displacement and damaged property. The government tolerated and gave the orders for this behaviour.
Other Information: The regime has mobilized and armed elements of the Gumuz people against the Oromo, after previously disarming the latter.
References: Information was taken from news sources listed in the PGMD.