location: Gonder
notes: Police and soldiers exchanged gunfire with Amhara residents and activists of Gonder for two days after police had come to arrest 6 members of the 'Welkayit committee' over alleged criminal activities. 16 people died, including 11 security agents, and at least 16 members of the federal and regional police were injured. Police later arrested four activists involved in the violence. Property damage was also recorded. Ethiopian government officials blame opposition groups based in Eritrea for the unrest in Gonder, while residents say ethnic tensions are behind the skirmishes. The Wolkayit committee has been protesting against the governments decision to merge the Wolkayit community and its land into the neighboring Tigray Regional State for over two decades, as they identify more with the Amharas than with the Tigrayans. Several internationals were evacuated from the town.
target_text: location: Gonder, fatalities: 8