Ethiopians Killed On South Sudan Border

According to Ethiopian officials, more than 140 civilians have been killed on the country’s border with South Sudan by armed attackers of the South Sudanese country’s Murle tribe.

Ethiopia’s communications minister, Getachew Reda, confirmed in a statement that the attackers were heavily armed and hail from South Sudan. He also confirmed that the attackers killed over 140 people – some of them being women and children as well.

The attack happened on Friday on Jakawa – a town in the Gambella region of Ethiopia.

He also said that the Ethiopian defence force is putting in every effort to catch the perpetrators and bring them to justice:

“…The Ethiopian defence force is currently chasing after the perpetrators…Our defence forces have so far killed 60 members of the attackers,” he said.

According to Reda, some of the children that were caught in the attack were also kidnapped by the tribe. It is believed that these children were taken to South Sudan.

He also confirmed that in order to catch these attackers, the Ethiopian defence force may cross the border into South Sudan.

While these attackers acted on their on account, reda made sure to assure the press that they are not part of the South Sudanese government or rebels.

South Sudan has been in turmoil since December 2013, when the civil war broke out in the country. Many Sudanese people have fled the war torn country and found refuge in neighbouring countries such as Ethiopia.