Benishangul People's Liberation Movement

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Benishangul People's Liberation Movement or BPLM is an armed rebel group based in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region of Ethiopia. [1] BPLM signed peace deals with the federal Ethiopian government in 2005, 2013 and 2022. [2] [3]

Contents

Creation

According to Tigrai Online , Benishangul People's Liberation Movement was created in 1996 as an armed rebel movement. [4] An Ethiopian prosecutor claimed that BPLM was created by Abdulwahab Mehadi in 2007. [1]

Aims

BPLM claimed in 2018 that the Berta people and the Gumuz people were "oppressed by all three of Ethiopia's most powerful communities" [5] and that the Oromo Liberation Front had attacked local inhabitants in Kamashi Zone. [6]

Leadership

According to an Ethiopian prosecutor, Abdulwahab Mehadi headed BPLM from 2007 to 2015. [1] Husien Ahmed was one BPLM's leaders in 2013. [4] [2]

Peace processes

BPLM signed a peace deal with the federal Ethiopian government in 2005. Fighting resumed in 2006. [2]

In June 2013, BPLM and the federal government agreed to a peace deal in 2013. [4] BPLM members were promised an amnesty from prosecution and governmental support under the deal. BPLM detainees were released. [2] Fighting resumed in 2019.

In October 2022, the BPLM signed another peace agreement with the government and agreed to conduct dialogue with the regional government. [7]

Eritrean support

BPLM received support, including military training, in Eritrea, according to an Ethiopian prosecutor [1] and Husien Ahmed, one of BPLM's leaders. [4] [2]

Military actions

In 2015, ten BPLM members were charged with armed attacks against the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) in a 30-minute gun battle at Bulfadto in Asosa. [1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Ethiopia charges ten for attacks against members of Defense Forces". Addis Standard . 2015-01-23. Archived from the original on 2021-11-05. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Ethiopian rebel group ends arms struggle, returns home". Sudan Tribune . 2013-06-09. Archived from the original on 2021-11-05. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  3. "Benishangul Gumuz regional govt, rebel group sign peace agreement". Addis Standard. 19 October 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "The Benishangul People's Liberation Movement (BPLM) quits armed struggle and returns home". Tigrai Online . 2013-06-09. Archived from the original on 2021-11-05. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  5. Gebreselassie, Elias (2018-10-19). "Rising allies may breach frontier despite EPRDF stalling on expansion". Ethiopia Insight . Archived from the original on 2019-11-08. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  6. Tasfaye, Ermias (2021-08-19). "EIEP: Prosperity Party's win is a loss for Oromia—and Ethiopia". Ethiopia Insight . Archived from the original on 2021-11-05. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  7. "Benishangul Gumuz regional govt, rebel group sign peace agreement". Addis Standard. 19 October 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2022.