Addis Abeba– The killing of a 14-year-old teenager in Moyale town, Borana Zone of Oromia Region, allegedly by “police members” in Shewa Ber kebele, has sparked widespread outrage among residents. The teenager was reportedly shot and killed on Friday, 11 January 2025, by “bullets fired by police forces,” according to local accounts.
Protests broke out the following day, with residents marching through the town to demand justice. Protesters alleged that police “opened fire to disperse” the demonstrations, causing injuries to several people.
Attempts by Addis Standard to contact the injured and assess the extent of the damage caused during the unrest were unsuccessful.
In a statement released yesterday, the Moyale town Communication Office confirmed the teenager’s death, referring to it as “the loss of a teenage child’s life.” The office condemned the killing, stating, “No human life should be lost in any circumstance,” and assured that an investigation is underway to “identify and bring to justice any individual involved in or responsible for the act.”
Addressing the protests, the office acknowledged the public’s right to demand justice but condemned “breaking into and destroying offices and setting them on fire” during the demonstrations.
The statement claimed such actions were “inappropriate and do not represent the protest’s purpose.” It further alleged that these acts were carried out by individuals with “political and hidden agendas” who sought to undermine the town’s stability.
The killing of the teenager is part of a series of alleged security force actions that have drawn criticism in the Borana Zone.
In a similar case, a 24-year-old youth, Kala Bonaya, was “brutally killed by security forces” in the Miyoo district of Borana Zone. This incident led to large-scale protests, after which the government identified five militia members as suspects.
In another case in September, security forces reportedly opened fire on four motorcycle riders in the Boku Luboma area of Miyoo district. One youth was killed, and two others were injured in the incident. Residents alleged that the shooting happened after the riders “refused to pay a 50-birr checkpoint fee requested by the militia.” AS
