Ethiopia weapons cache smuggling ring from Sudan sparks fear of violence

Mohammad Awad | 14 October 2012 | 0 Comments

Fears grow that weapons smuggled into Ethiopia from Sudan could spark new round of violence.

ADDIS ABABA: Ethiopia’s police and security forces have confirmed to Bikyamasr.com that they have taken control of illegal weapons that had been smuggled into the East African country from Sudan.

Police said that hundreds of illegal weapons were seized on Saturday in what they said were being smuggled in for the purpose of being used in the Eastern part of the country.

“Police have seized a total of 481 pistols and 13,000 bullets,” Fekadu Berhe of the Ethiopia’s Federal Police Media and Communication Department told Sudan Tribune.

Another police officer, who said he was part of the raid, told Bikyamasr.com that most of the smugglers have been arrested.

“We don’t know exactly the purpose of the weapons, but there are early reports that they were heading East to help rebel groups,” he said on condition of anonymity.

The smuggling has heightened fears among the Ogaden community that the seizing of the weapons could spark new violence in the eastern part of the country.

Residents in Eastern Ethiopia told Bikyamasr.com on Sunday that they are worried over the future, despite recent peace talks between the rebel groups and the government.

“Violence hasn’t really stopped and this report of weapons could be a reason to start more attacks on the area,” said one resident.