Regional authorities in Ethiopia said that “the rebels attacked the Ethiopian city of Gambella, the capital of the region of the same name located in the southwest of the country, for several hours, but its security forces finally regained control of the situation.” The Oromo Liberation Army, a rebel group operating in the neighboring region of Oromia and designated a “terrorist organization” by the Ethiopian government since May 2021, claimed responsibility for the attack, which it carried out in cooperation with a local armed group.

“Regional security forces have managed to regain control over the situation in Gambella,” said the head of the regional government, Umud Ogulu. He stressed that “the enemy suffered heavy losses and material damage”, while the pro-government forces suffered only “medium damage”. Previously, the regional government reported on a “joint attack by SHIN and the Gambella Liberation Front” on the city, saying that there was fighting in the morning.