60 years after, Ethiopia-Somali region commemorates genocide by Ethiopia’s army

Jigjiga (Somaliland.com) – For the first time since the incident occurred, the Somali region of Ethiopia is commemorating acts of genocide committed by the Ethiopian Federal Government in Aysha village in 1960.

The army of King Haile Selasie was alleged to have committed genocidal crimes against the villagers of Aysha who were merely celebrating the newly independent Somali regions of Somaliland and Somalia on 12th of August 1960.

Preparations have been geared up for the event which is to take place in the town of Aysha in the Siti region (Ex-Shiniille region) of the Somali regional state, where the massacre took place.

President Mustafe Muhumed Omar (Agjar) and other government officials are expected to attend the event.

The fallen empire was accused of the killing of more than 1,500 Somali citizens in the Aysha area on the suspicion of their support for the independence of their Somali brothers in the British and Italian colonies.

In the last months, the Somali community has vocally praised the president for the bold moves to revive the Somali identity in Ethiopia during his tenure.

The position of the Ethiopian Federal Government is yet unknown as the organizers have failed to comment if federal level officials will attend the event or not.