Ethiopia’s ruling coalition has elected a new leader from the country’s Oromo ethnic group, which has been at the centre of nearly three years of anti-government protests. Abiy Ahmed was elected with more than 60% of the vote, according to state-affiliated media. The vote paves the way for him to take over as prime minister … Read more
A national state of emergency has been declared in Ethiopia just one day after the unexpected resignation of Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn. A statement by the state broadcaster said the move was necessary to stem a wave of anti-government protests. Hundreds of people have died in three years of unrest in the country. A 10-month … Read more
Members of the Council of State will today [Friday], begin a nationwide tour of areas affected by illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey. The Council, seeks to assess at first hand the level of the devastation in these areas. The tour will commence from the Eastern Region through to Ashanti and Western. The Council is expected to … Read more
The Ethiopian parliament has extended by four months a state of emergency it declared six months ago after almost a year of often violent anti-government demonstrations. The widely expected extension comes amid reports of continued violence and anti-government activities in some rural areas. At least 500 people were killed by security forces during the year … Read more
Ethiopia has extended the nationwide state of emergency declared last year by another four months on Thursday after lifting some restrictions two weeks ago. The country’s parliament unanimously voted for the extension after the State of Emergency Secretariat’s request, Ethiopian state media FBC reported. Defence Minister Siraj Fegessa who heads the Secretariat explained that the … Read more
Ethiopia’s government has charged three prominent opposition activists with inciting riots, destroying property and plotting a coup, a government spokesman told AFP on Wednesday. The allegations come after months of clashes between police and anti-government protesters that killed hundreds and were only quelled after authorities declared a nationwide state of emergency in October. Those facing … Read more
This is the second explosion in a week in the Northern Ethiopian city of Gondar At least one person has been killed and nineteen others injured in an explosion in a hotel in the northern Ethiopian city of Gondar. It was not immediately clear who was behind Tuesday night’s blast but police have linked the … Read more
Ethiopia has imposed severe regulations under a new six-month “state of emergency” as it faces unprecedented levels of unrest across the country, a first in the government’s 25-year rule. The government says the state of emergency was put in place to prevent further loss of life and property, but many activists worry the new rules … Read more
The Ethiopian authorities have detained more than 1,600 people under the state of emergency, a government minister has told the BBC. A statement, quoted by state-affiliated FBC website, lists arrests in the Oromia and Amhara regions, which have recently seen massive demonstrations. This is in addition to Monday’s arrests of 1,000 people near the capital. … Read more
Ethiopia’s government has declared a six-month state of emergency in the face of an unprecedented wave of violent protests. Activists in the country’s Oromia region has been holding demonstrations since last November, and protesters from the Amhara region have also joined in. The deaths of at least 55 people at an Oromo religious festival on … Read more
The UN’s human rights high commissioner (OHCHR) has repeated a demand that the Ethiopian government allow his office access to the protest-hit areas of the country. This comes after a week of protests sparked by the deaths at a religious festival in a town in Oromia on Sunday. In a statement, the OHCHR says that … Read more
Fifty-two people were killed and many more injured in Ethiopia’s Oromia region during a protest at a religious festival, the government says. Some died in a stampede after police employed tear gas, rubber bullets and baton charges, witnesses said. Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said rioters had caused “pre-planned mayhem” that led people to fall to … Read more
Many people have been killed and injured in Ethiopia’s Oromia region after security forces fired on a major protest, witnesses say. Some died in a panicked stampede after troops opened fire, the reports said. Thousands had gathered for a religious festival in Bishoftu, 40km (25 miles) from the capital Addis Ababa. Some reports said troops … Read more