Seven people were killed in a series of attacks on gold and marble mining sites in Bero wereda, West Omo Zone, southwestern Ethiopia, officials said.

The assaults took place on Thursday, December 25, 2025, targeting three locations in the district, according to Sergeant Major Demelash Aku, the wereda police commander.

The first attack struck Bero Mining, a gold exploration company operating under a three-year federal permit granted last year. One worker was killed and another injured, Gemeda Kaidad, the wereda chief administrator, confirmed. “Other individuals present at the site were also attacked,” he said.

Authorities have not yet identified the attackers. The incident highlights growing security concerns in the region, which has seen sporadic militant activity threatening both local communities and investment in natural resources.