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Ethiopia declares state of emergency amid protests

• 15 minutes ago
 
• From the sectionAfrica

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Image copyrightREUTERS

Image captionA torched bus in the Sebeta region of Ethiopia

Ethiopia has declared a state of emergency following months of anti-government protests by members of the country's two largest ethnic groups.

The Oromo and the Amhara make up about 60% of the population. They complain power is held by a tiny Tigrean elite.

Violence has intensified since last Sunday when at least 55 people were killed in clashes between police and protesters at an Oromo festival.

Hundreds have died in months of protests, human rights groups say.

Tens of thousands have also been detained, they say.

• What do Oromo protests mean for Ethiopian unity?
• What is behind wave of protests?

Declaring the state of emergency, Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said in a televised address: "We put our citizens' safety first. Besides, we want to put an end to the damage that is being carried out against infrastructure projects, education institutions, health centres, administration and justice buildings."

The state of emergency will last for six months.

BBC World Service Africa editor Mary Harper says the violent protests are the most serious threat to Ethiopian stability in a quarter of a century.

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Ethiopia's ethnic make-up

• Oromo - 34.4%
• Amhara - 27%
• Somali - 6.2%
• Tigre - 6.1%
• Sidama - 4%
• Gurage - 2.5%
• Others - 19.8%

Source: CIA World Factbook estimates from 2007

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The protesters have been attacking foreign companies, she says, threatening Ethiopia's reputation as a growing economy, ripe for international investment.

The details of the state of emergency remain unclear, but she adds that protesters have already shown they will not back down when faced with force.

Many roads into and out of the capital, Addis Ababa, are blocked by protesters.

The protests are for manifold reason, and include:

• Muslims unhappy at the imposition of government-approved leaders
• Farmers displaced to make way for commercial agriculture
• Amharic communities opposed to their inclusion in Tigre rather than the Amhara region
• Discontent among groups in various parts of the vast Oromia region

In the most recent unrest in Oromia, at least 55 people were killed in a stampede triggered by clashes between police and demonstrators at the annual Ireecha celebrations - a traditional Oromo seasonal festival.

Police fired tear gas to disperse protesters angered at their handling of the event, witnesses told the BBC.

Protesters say violence by the security forces led to the stampede, but the PM denied security forces had opened fire.

Correspondents say that while the ruling coalition has some solid achievements to show for its 25 years in power, it has been unable to manage the transition from being a secretive revolutionary movement to running an open, democratic government.

Amharic domination, under Ethiopia's former military government and emperors, was replaced by Tigrean leadership following the overthrow of long-serving ruler Mengistu Haile Mariam in 1991.

Q&A: Recent Events and Deaths at the Irreecha Festival in Ethiopia

Q&A: Recent Events and Deaths at the Irreecha Festival in Ethiopia

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Are Ethiopian protests a game changer?

Image copyrightREUTERS

Political protests which have swept through Ethiopia are a major threat to the country's secretive government, writes former BBC Ethiopia correspondent Elizabeth Blunt.

For the past five years Ethiopia has been hit by waves of protest, not only by formal opposition groups but also Muslims unhappy at the imposition of government-approved leaders, farmers displaced to make way for commercial agriculture, Amhara communities opposed at their inclusion in Tigre rather than the Amhara region and, above all, by groups in various parts of the vast Oromia region.

In the most recent unrest in Oromia, at least 55 people died when security forces intervened over the weekend during the annual Ireecha celebrations - a traditional Oromo seasonal festival.

The Oromo protests have continued long after plans to expand the capital Addis Ababa's boundaries to take in more of the region were abandoned earlier this year. And in the last few months groups which were previously separate have made common cause.

In particular, Amhara and Oromo opposition has coalesced, with both adopting the latest opposition symbol - arms raised and wrists crossed as if handcuffed together.

The picture of Olympic silver medallist Feyisa Lilesa making this gesture while crossing the finish line at the Rio 2016 went round the world, and photographs from the Ireecha celebrations in Bishoftu show the crowd standing with their arms crossed above their heads before police intervention triggered the deadly panic.

Image copyrightAFP

Image copyrightREUTERS

Image captionHis style of protest was also seen at the festival

The ruling coalition, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), has some solid achievements to show for its 25 years in power, in terms of economic development and improved health and education, especially for the rural poor.

But what it has not been able to do is manage the transition from being a centralised, secretive revolutionary movement to running a more open, democratic and sustainable government.

'Inflaming anger'

In theory, Ethiopia has embraced parliamentary democracy, but such hurdles are put in the way of potential rival parties that there are currently no opposition members of parliament.

Image copyrightREUTERS

Image captionThe security forces have been accused of using excessive force to quell unrest

The EPRDF has in theory devolved a good deal of power to the country's ethnically based regions, but time and again regional leaders have been changed by central government.

Ethiopia's constitution allows freedom of speech and association but draconian anti-terrorism laws have been used against those who have tried to use those freedoms to criticise the government.

It is now clear that these attempts to hold on to control in a changing world have misfired.

Just as attempts to dictate who should lead the Muslim community led to earlier protests, reports from Bishoftu town, where the 55 died, say that anger spilled over on Sunday because of official attempts to control which Oromo leaders were allowed to speak at the event.

The overreaction of the security forces then turned a protest that might have gone largely unnoticed into a major catastrophe, inflaming anger in Ethiopia itself and causing growing concern abroad.

And so the cycle continues, and every time protests are badly handled they create more grievances, and generate more anger and more demonstrations.

Image copyrightAFP

Image captionMany Ethiopians rely on agriculture for their livelihood

Image copyrightAFP

Image captionCoffee is a major export earner

The US government is among those who have expressed concern at the deteriorating situation. Its Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, met Ethiopia's Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn during the UN General Assembly last month.

She urged him to be more open to dialogue, to accept greater press freedom, to release political prisoners and to allow civil society organisations to operate.

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Ethiopia's ethnic make-up

• Oromo - 34.4%
• Amhara - 27%
• Somali - 6.2%
• Tigray - 6.1%
• Sidama - 4%
• Gurage - 2.5%
• Others - 19.8%

Source: CIA World Factbook estimates from 2007

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"We have encouraged him to look at how the government is addressing this situation," she said after the meeting.

"We think it could get worse if it's not addressed - sooner rather than later."

Oromo PM hopes dashed

The latest reports from Ethiopia show why concerted opposition from Oromia is such a potential problem for the government.

The Oromos are the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia, and they have a long-standing grievance about the fact that despite this they have never controlled the political leadership.

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More on Ethiopia's unrest:

Image copyrightAFP

• What is behind Ethiopia's wave of protest?
• Endurance test for Ethiopia's Feyisa Lilesa
• The town from where Fesiya comes
• What does unrest mean for Ethiopian unity?
• Why Ethiopia is making a historic ‘master plan’ U-turn

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Amhara domination, under Ethiopia's former military government and emperors, was replaced by Tigrean leadership following the overthrow of long-serving ruler Mengistu Haile Mariam in 1991.

Meles Zenawi, who played a key role in the rebellion to overthrow the Mengistu regime, took power, serving as president and later as prime minister.

When he died in 2012, the Oromo hoped it would be their turn to rule, but his chosen replacement, Mr Hailemariam, came from the small Welayta ethnic group in the south.

Image copyrightAFP

Image captionMeles Zenawi was in power from 1991 until his death in 2012

Not only are the Oromo numerous, their region is large and more productive than the densely populated highlands.

It produces a lot of Ethiopia's food, and most of its coffee, normally the biggest export earner.

The sprawling region encircles Addis Ababa, controlling transport routes in and out of the city.

For a government so worried about loss of control, big Oromo protests are a serious threat indeed.

Seminar with Ethiopian journalist Tesfalem Waldyes Stockholm

Ethiopia: Renewed protests underline need to investigate after dozens killed in stampede

Ethiopia: Renewed protests underline need to investigate after dozens killed in stampede: Fresh protests in Ethiopia since dozens of protesters were killed in a stampede at a religious festival on 2 October underline the need for the Ethiopian government to ensure a full investigation into

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Ethiopia: human rights defender condemns deadliest mass murder in Oromia | #IrreechaaMassacre | #OromoProtests

The following is a statement from the Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa (HRLHA).

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HRLHA Urgent Action

October 2, 2016

The HRLHA deeply condemns the mass murder by the Ethiopian government sponsored killing squad Agazi force near Bishoftu, Oromia, where over 4,000,000 Oromos gathered to celebrate the Irreechaa annual festival, the Oromo Thanksgiving Day, on October 2, 2016.

The attack by the killing squad Agazi – which was supported by helicopter from the air – has left at least 300 civilians dead on the spot and thousands wounded, whom have been taken to hospitals in Bishoftu and Addis Ababa, 40km away from the place the mass murder took place. According the HRLHA informants from the place, the dead bodies were everywhere on the ground around Hora Arsadi, the area of the Irreechaa festival.

The October 2, 2016 mass murder would be one of the highest tolls for a single day in Oromia since the now 10-month Oromo protests began in November 2015.

The HRLHA calls on the world governments and donor organizations to condemn the barbaric acts of government-sponsored killing squadAgazi force against Oromo civilians and put pressure on the TPLF/EPRDF Ethiopian government to allow swiftly a neutral body to investigate this horrific action of this dictatorial government’s killing squad.

The HRLHA will continue updating the growing number of the victims from around the area.

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Warning!
Note: The following photos are extremely graphics; viewer discretion advised.

All photos were taken from social media; names have not been identified yet.
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Ethiopia : Irreechaa Holiday 2016 in Bishoftu turns to Oromo Protests de...

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https://www.facebook.com/girmaabbaacabsaa/videos/10209515690861919/

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Oromia: Deadly stampede at Ethiopia protest

• 8 minutes ago
 
• From the sectionAfrica

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Image copyrightREUTERS

Image captionMany fled as security forces used tear gas

Dozens have been killed and injured in Ethiopia's Oromia region after security forces confronted protesters at a festival, witnesses say.

Some people died in a panicked stampede after police employed tear gas and baton charges, they said.

Thousands had gathered for a religious festival in Bishoftu, 40km (25 miles) from the capital Addis Ababa.

Some reports said police responded after anti-government protesters threw stones and bottles.

Others said demonstrators were entirely peaceful.

Ethiopia's government said in a statement that "lives were lost", adding: "Those responsible will face justice".

An Oromo activist, Jawar Mohamed, is quoted as saying nearly 300 people were killed and many more injured. He said troops and a helicopter gunship had opened fire, driving people off a cliff and into a lake.

There has been no independent confirmation of this.

Image copyrightREUTERS

Image captionSecurity forces said they were responding to protesters throwing bottles and stones

Image copyrightREUTERS

Image captionBut many said the demonstrators were protesting peacefully about political and economic marginalisation

Image copyrightREUTERS

Image captionThe US had already expressed concern about excessive use of force against protesters before Sunday's violence

There have been months of deadly clashes in Ethiopia recently.

People in the Oromia and Amhara regions have complained about political and economic marginalisation.

The US has expressed concern about what it termed the excessive use of force against protesters.

• What is behind wave of protests?
• What do Oromo protests mean for Ethiopian unity?

Crowds at Sunday's Oromo festival, which AP news agency said had attracted two million people, chanted "We need freedom" and "We need justice", witnesses said.

Some participants crossed their wrists above their heads, a gesture that has become a symbol of Oromo protests.

The unrest was sparked last November by a plan to expand the capital into Oromia. This led to fears that farmers from the Oromo ethnic group, the largest in Ethiopia, would be displaced.

The plan was later dropped but protests continued, highlighting issues such as marginalisation and human rights.