The 2019 Dambi Dolo University Student Kidnapping: A Detailed Examination

I. Introduction: A Crisis of Security and Ethnicity in Western Ethiopia

In December 2019, 18 a deeply troubling incident unfolded in the western region of Oromia, Ethiopia, involving Dambi Dolo University. Multiple reports emerged concerning the abduction of a significant number of students, primarily of Amhara ethnicity, triggering widespread concern, public outcry, and scrutiny of the Ethiopian government's response 1. This report aims to provide a comprehensive overview of this incident, drawing upon available news articles and reports to detail the circumstances surrounding the kidnapping, the identities and backgrounds of the victims, the alleged perpetrators, the status of the students, and the reactions from both the Ethiopian government and the international community. The event underscores the complex challenges related to ethnic tensions and security within Ethiopia and particularly within Oromia region.

II. Competing Narratives and Conflicting reports

Conflicting reports initially presented varying accounts regarding the precise number of students kidnapped. While some sources indicated 17 students, others mentioned 18 or even 21. However, a consensus appears to have formed around the figure of 17 students from Dambi Dolo University, with government sources suggesting that an additional five individuals from the local community were also missing 3 18.

Out of the 17 captives, 12 of them were confirmed students from Dembi Dolo University while the remaining five hostages were not found on the students’ list of the university - Prime Minister Press Secretariat Head Nigusu Tilaun

The discrepancy in the initial numbers highlights the confusion and lack of clarity that characterized the early stages of the crisis. The abductions were reported to have occurred between November 2019 2 and December 2019 18. More specifically, one student reported being abducted on November 28th. Another report specified that a group of students was abducted on December 4, 2019, when gunmen stopped a bus they were traveling on from Dambi Dolo University towards Addis Ababa. This suggests that the students were targeted while attempting to leave the area due to the prevailing ethnic tensions on the university campus 2. The specific location of the bus interception was reportedly around the Anfillo area, on the way from Wellega to Gambella town 3. This region, located in western Oromia, became the focal point of the abduction incident.

The 17 students were abducted on various dates in November 2019 as they fled fatal ethnic clashes between Oromo and Amhara university students – Amnesty International

The Ethiopian government and international organizations have presented competing narratives regarding certain events. The government, cautious not to blame the Oromo people or political groups, avoided naming the perpetrators, despite widespread consensus that the OLA was responsible. Additionally, the government made an unsubstantiated claim that five locals, “including a father with his child,” were abducted to dissipate the narrative of another ethnic-based attack on Amharas in Oromia from forming. This approach aligned with the government's narrative of reform at that time and its desire to avoid public scrutiny. On the other hand, while the BBC17 indicated the “the students, mostly ethnic Amharas, were fleeing ethnic violence and threats in the university that is located in Oromia region”, international organizations like Amnesty International reported the incident as "ethnic clashes between Oromo and Amhara university students," which contradicts both the facts on the ground and parts of Amnesty's own report. The report highlights that Amhara students were specifically targeted, which aligns with the broader pattern of violence against Amhara individuals in Oromia.

III. Identities and Backgrounds of the Kidnapped: Targeting a Specific Ethnic Group

Available information indicates that the majority, if not all, of the kidnapped students were of Amhara ethnicity. The selective ordering out of the vehicle suggests a potential ethnic motivation behind the abduction, occurring amidst escalating ethnic attacks against Amharas in Oromia. While the names of the kidnapped students were not publicized by authorities, likely to avoid inference of ethnicity from their names, independent sources have published some of the names. Adding to the confusion, no single report includes all the names of the abducted victims related to the Dambi Dolo University incident. However, here is a compilation of the more than 17 names mentioned in various reports at that time, with the names intersecting in multiple reports as Dambi Dolo University students are marked with an asterisk (*).

One student who managed to escape was identified as Asmira Shumiye6. Her account provided crucial early information about the ethically motivated nature of the incident. She described how the students were forcibly removed from a bus by men who appeared to be "gangsters" and spoke in Afaan Oromo. According to Asmira, the captors claimed their issue was with the government, which strengthened allegations against the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), although the group denied involvement. Later, in a documentary that emerged on EBS on March 23, 2025, the harrowing testimony of Bertukan Temesgen emerged, who claimed to be a pharmacy student abducted around the same time. Although the Ethiopian Government forcefully disputed her story20 the focus on the ethnic identity of the victims underscores the volatile ethnic landscape in the country and the prevalence of ethnically motivated violence towards the Amhara people in Oromia region.

IV. Circumstances Surrounding the Kidnapping: A Bus Interception and Forced Removal

The kidnapping reportedly occurred when a group of unidentified men, described by one escapee as looking like "gangsters," stopped a bus carrying the students [3, 5, 6, 8, 11, 7, 8]. These men allegedly spoke in the Afaan Oromo language [3, 8, 7, 8] and specifically selected the students, who were primarily of Amhara ethnicity, forcing them to leave the bus while allowing other passengers to continue their journey 7. The captors confiscated the students' phones 7 and led them into a nearby wooded area or jungle 2. One student who escaped reported that they were forced to walk in the jungle for about 40 minutes 12. This account suggests a coordinated operation by the perpetrators to specifically target and abduct the Amhara students traveling on the bus. The method of stopping a public transport vehicle and forcibly removing individuals indicates a degree of organization and intent.

V. The Ethiopian Government's Response: Scrutiny and Criticism

Following the news of the abduction, the Ethiopian government confirmed the incident and announced the establishment of an investigation unit or task force . Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed reportedly met with the parents of the kidnapped students and assured them that their children would return safely . Federal police were also deployed to universities in an attempt to calm ethnic tensions 12. While the government took some initial steps to acknowledge the crisis and promise action, these efforts were largely overshadowed by the subsequent misinformation and the lack of tangible results in securing the students' release 14. The government's handling of the situation sparked widespread public anger and frustration 6. The #BringBackOurStudents social media campaign gained significant traction , mirroring similar movements and demanding urgent government action to secure the release of the abducted students 6. Protests erupted in various cities, particularly in the Amhara region, as people took to the streets to express their outrage and demand answers from the government . The strong public reaction, including both online activism and street protests, highlights the deep concern and lack of confidence in the government's ability to handle the crisis effectively.

Human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Vision Ethiopia issued strong statements criticizing the Ethiopian authorities for their perceived inaction, silence, and lack of transparency regarding the kidnapping 2. The Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia also condemned the government's failure to protect the victims and take necessary measures for their return . Even within the political sphere, figures like the former deputy president of the Amhara region admitted that there had been little effort made to release the students, leading to the prolonged nature of the problem . The widespread criticism from human rights organizations and political figures underscores the significant shortcomings in the government's response to the kidnapping and the profound impact this had on public trust and confidence .

Citations

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18. The Whereabouts of Abducted University Students is Known: Police Commissioner, The Whereabouts of Abducted University Students is Known: Police Commissioner
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