Authorities in the western Ethiopian region of Gambella have imposed a night-time curfew.
The curfew which restricts movement between 19:00 and 06:00 has been imposed in response to the recent outbreak of violence that resulted in numerous fatalities.
While the regional government has not released specific casualty figures, it issued a statement promising to hold accountable those “members of the leadership” who were involved in the disturbance of peace.
Local media reports indicate that the violence, which has ethnic dimensions, started earlier this week and led to clashes in at least two areas. As a result, businesses and offices in the regional capital, Gambella city, remained closed on Wednesday.
Gambella, which shares a border with South Sudan, has experienced recurring violence in recent months. In May, there were reports of at least seven people killed and more than a dozen wounded in clashes in Gambella city.
Additionally, last year, the city faced a raid by rebel fighters from the neighboring Oromia region, resulting in the deaths of dozens of people.