A federal police officer stands guard as people gather during a protest against purported fake news and foreign meddling at the British Embassy of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on November 25, 2021. AFP
The assault in the Gambella region on Wednesday targeted farm workers, said Ugetu Ading, head of communications for the Gambella regional government.
He said the attack was carried out by the Gambella Freedom Front and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), both rebel groups and the latter active in the neighbouring region of Oromia.
The government was carrying out a manhunt for the attackers, Ugetu added.
The OLA last year forged an alliance with the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), a group that long dominated Ethiopia, but since November 2020 has been mired in conflict against the federal government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
Gambella also borders South Sudan, and has in the past suffered intrusions over the frontier by armed fighters from that country.
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