15.01.2026 10:30
Details have emerged about the incident in Ethiopia where businessmen Erdoğan Akbulak and Cengizhan Güngör were killed in an armed attack while on safari. Their friend Tarık Hotamışlıgil, who was on the same safari, said, "We were caught under heavy fire, we managed to escape, but the tires of the vehicle they were in were hit, and they couldn't escape. They took the lives of these wonderful people for a little money and some belongings. The pain is immense."
New details have emerged regarding the incident involving two Turkish citizens who lost their lives during a safari in Ethiopia. The deceased, Erdoğan Akbulak, the owner of Silkar Mining, and Cengizhan Güngör, were accompanied by their friend Tarık Hotamışlıgil, who recounted the events that took place during the attack.
Cengizhan Güngör (on the right) who was killed in the conflict, Erdoğan Akbulak (2nd from the right), Elif Kağıtçıbaşı (on the left), Tarık Hotamışlıgil (2nd from the left) 2 TURKS LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CONFLICT According to the information obtained, the incident occurred on the morning of January 12 in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region of Ethiopia, in the rural area near the town of Tum. Gunfire was opened on a convoy that included a group on safari. It was reported that three people lost their lives in the attack, including two Turkish businessmen, Erdoğan Akbulak and Cengizhan Güngör, as well as the Ethiopian driver of the convoy.
SURVIVED THE ATTACK, RECALLED THE EVENTS It was learned that two Turkish citizens survived the attack at the last moment. One of these individuals was identified as Tarık Hotamışlıgil. Hotamışlıgil shared his experiences on his Instagram account.
"WE WENT TO ETHIOPIA TO EXPERIENCE A NEW CULTURE" In his post, Hotamışlıgil stated, "We went to Ethiopia to experience a new culture, to take photos together, to be amazed." He added, "Unfortunately, life did not allow it."
"WE MANAGED TO ESCAPE, THEY COULDN'T" Hotamışlıgil recounted that they were caught under heavy fire during the attack, stating that they managed to escape, but the vehicle containing Akbulak and Güngör could not. He noted that the tires of the vehicle carrying the two deceased businessmen were hit, preventing it from moving, and he used the following expressions throughout his post:
"Years pass so quickly, we lived like brothers for a full 40 years with Erdoğan, we grew up together, we had many beautiful days together. Both Erdoğan and Cengizhan managed to touch the hearts of everyone who knew them. We went to Ethiopia to experience a new culture, to take photos together, to be amazed. Unfortunately, life did not allow it. We were caught under heavy fire, we managed to escape, but the tires of the vehicle they were in were hit, and they could not escape. They took the lives of these beautiful people for a little money, a few belongings. The pain is immense, and so is the grief. I don't know how this wound will heal. May their places be paradise. They will never be forgotten."
WHAT HAPPENED? Two Turkish businessmen who went to Ethiopia for a tourist trip were killed in an armed attack. Two other Turks in the same convoy managed to escape at the last moment.
Turkey's Ambassador to Addis Ababa, Berk Baran, provided information about the incident.
Ambassador Baran stated that four Turkish citizens were traveling in two vehicles during the attack, and that the two Turks in the front vehicle escaped at the last moment.