Reports of night time raids, looting, unlawful detentions by Prosperity Party escalate in Oromia
Published Aug. 13, 2025, 9:02 p.m. by FNN
Local Residents Allege Intimidation and Collective Punishment by Ethiopia's Ruling Party
On August 13, 2025, concerning reports emerged from the Daallee Waabaraa district in Qellem Wallaggaa. Local residents alleged that armed units aligned with Ethiopia’s ruling Prosperity Party (PP) were involved in night raids, looting, and arbitrary arrests. These actions are reportedly part of a broader campaign of intimidation and collective punishment against the local population.
Night-time Raids and Looting
Eyewitness accounts from Alchawwaa Cabal village revealed that these armed units launched a coordinated attack on civilian homes on the night of August 9. Starting around 1am, PP forces allegedly carried out a campaign of looting and terror, specifically targeting those suspected of supporting the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA). Among the most egregious cases reported was that of 70-year-old Elias Aaga, a respected elder in the community. Elias' house was reportedly ransacked, his personal property looted, and his livestock stolen. "They took one of his horses and two cows. They even stripped the household of basic items, blankets, cooking tools, everything," a neighbour recounted. Elias's daughter, Raamatee Elias, was also a target of these actions. They also kidnapped a fellow villager, Faris Tsagga.
Arbitrary Arrests and Detention
In addition to the looting and property damage, several villagers were detained during the raid and have since been held in the district jail. Local residents maintain that those arrested have no known affiliations with any political group, further underscoring their belief that this is a deliberate campaign of collective punishment by the PP forces. Residents argue that the arrests were justified on the grounds that Elias Aaga is the father of an OLA fighter. One witness said, "Elias is over 70, barely able to walk, let alone engage in politics or war. This is not law enforcement. This is retribution."
A Faltering Regime and its Repercussions
The Prosperity Party, increasingly seen by critics as failing due to its own political and economic mismanagement, has ramped up military operations across Oromia in recent months. Observers suggest that these operations frequently target civilians indiscriminately, with scant evidence linking them to the armed struggle led by the OLA. One resident commented, "The regime is scapegoating ordinary people to mask its collapsing legitimacy. It’s trying to paint the Oromo population as complicit to justify brutal crackdowns."
Growing Human Rights Concerns
Reports of such abuses have become increasingly common, particularly in districts where the government alleges the OLA is active. Human rights organizations have called for independent investigations into these arbitrary arrests, looting, and reprisals against family members of suspected fighters. At the time of this report, those detained in Daallee Waabaraa are still in custody, with no formal charges brought against them. As the situation continues to unfold, the world is keenly focused on the actions of the Prosperity Party and its treatment of the Oromo population.
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