British travel influencer Charles Wright has described being shot in the foot by gunmen attempting to stop his vehicle during a road trip in Ethiopia. Wright, 40, was traveling alone through the country when the incident occurred near Kobo, on the Tigray-Amhara state border, an active conflict zone.
He reported that two men in civilian clothing tried to halt his Toyota Yaris. After initially slowing down, Wright accelerated away when he saw one of the men preparing an AK-47. Two shots were fired at his car, with one bullet ricocheting and lodging in the heel of his right foot, which was on the accelerator. Wright, who had fractured the same foot playing football earlier that day, did not realize he had been shot and continued driving for approximately 500 kilometers over 24 hours with the bullet still embedded.
Several days later, Wright claims he was targeted again by armed federal police after missing a mandatory customs turn-off. He stated the road was not clearly signposted and he was following GPS. According to Wright, two officers emerged from bushes and threw a large plastic container towards his car before allegedly firing four or five shots at his tires. Video footage showed bullet holes in one of his tires. Wright, whose car was disabled by a flat tire, was eventually found by officers after locals reported seeing a Westerner in the area. He stated that his phone was taken, and he was made to walk through the desert with his injuries, recounting that officers laughed as he struggled. Some items, including a penknife and cutlery, were also reported missing from his car.
Wright had the bullet removed at Dawa Haya Hospital in Awash. The surgery was complicated by a power outage, during which medical staff used mobile phone flashlights. Following the procedure, he reported being kept at a hotel for about six days under guard, without a clear explanation for his detention. He was eventually released with the help of contacts in the tourism industry.
This was not his only detention during his 32-day stay in Ethiopia; Wright stated he was jailed three times. He described his experience leaving the country as a significant relief, noting there were moments he doubted he would make it out. Wright, who has traveled extensively for about 15 years, covering approximately 48,000 kilometers through more than 34 countries, found his Ethiopian experience to be unique.
He emphasized that his account is a personal experience and that he also met Ethiopians who were helpful. While he did not advise against visiting Ethiopia, he urged potential travelers to thoroughly research the risks, particularly concerning checkpoints, police encounters, pricing, theft, and visa issues. Wright plans to take time to recover and repair his vehicle before resuming his travels, though he has altered his plans to avoid traveling further north through Africa.