Violence in Ethiopia that began with protests against Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and quickly morphed into ethnic clashes has left 67 people dead in Oromia state, a police official said Friday.
The
spike in the death toll came as the high-profile activist at the centre of the
violence accused Abiy, this year's Nobel Peace Prize laureate, of acting like a
dictator and suggesting he might challenge him in elections planned for next
year.
"The
total number dead in Oromia is 67," said Kefyalew Tefera, the regional
police chief, adding that five of the dead were police officers.
Violence
erupted in Addis Ababa, the capital, and in much of Ethiopia's Oromia region on
Wednesday after the activist, Jawar Mohammed, accused security forces of trying
to orchestrate an attack against him -- a claim police officials denied.
Kefyalew
told AFP that the violence had ended in Oromia but Amnesty International
researcher Fisseha Tekle said late Friday that he was still receiving reports
of attacks.
The
defence ministry said Friday that it was deploying forces to seven hotspots to
restore order, according to the state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate.
Jawar is
credited with promoting protests that swept Abiy to power last year but he has
recently become critical of some of the premier's policies.
In an
interview at his residence in Addis Ababa, Jawar told AFP that Abiy -- named
Nobel Peace laureate two weeks ago -- seemed to be taking Ethiopia back to
"the old ways" of authoritarian rule.
"He
has resorted to the early signs of dictatorship, of trying to intimidate
people, even his very close allies who helped him come to power who happen to
disagree with some of the policies and positions and ideologies he's
advocating," Jawar said.
"Intimidation
is the start of authoritarian rule."
Both men
are members of the Oromo ethnic group, Ethiopia's largest.
Their
feud highlights divisions within Abiy's Oromo support base that could
complicate his bid for a five-year term when Ethiopia votes in elections
currently planned for May 2020.
Jawar
said that running against Abiy was "one possibility," though he also
said he could be convinced to back Abiy if he changes course.
"I
want to have an active role in the coming election. In what capacity I'm not
sure but I want to make sure that the influence I have in the country has a
positive contribution," he said.
-
Religious, ethnic conflict -
After
two days of violent protests, tensions had cooled Friday in Addis Ababa,
although the total damage inflicted by the unrest was still being tallied.
Fisseha
of AI said the violence had included instances of security forces opening fire
on protesters but was increasingly taking the form of ethnic and religious
clashes.
"Some
people have lost their lives with sticks, with machetes, some houses have been
burned. People have been using even bullets and light arms to kill each other,
to fight each other," he said.
At least
six people were killed in the town of Ambo, west of Addis, after security
forces opened fire on protesters, Fisseha said.
Ethnic
and religious violence has been reported in the towns and cities of Dodola,
Harar, Balerobe and Adama.
Property
belonging to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, which some associate with
the Amhara ethnic group, has been targeted in several locations, Fisseha said.
Daniel
Bekele, head of the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, urged public figures to
tamp down virulent rhetoric that could contribute to additional unrest.
"It
is extremely depressing that public officials and community leaders don't
appreciate the consequences of their actions and words leading to this
senseless loss of lives, destruction of property and disruption of ordinary
life," he said.
"As
security forces are struggling to calm the crisis, everyone has a
responsibility to do their share and cooperate."
fecha |
Título |
16/12/2023| |
|
23/08/2023| |
|
28/06/2023| |
|
03/05/2023| |
|
20/04/2023| |
|
19/04/2023| |
|
11/04/2023| |
|
04/04/2023| |
|
10/03/2023| |
|
15/09/2022| |
|
15/09/2022| |
|
28/05/2021| |
|
27/05/2021| |
|
10/12/2020| |
|
20/11/2020| |
|
19/11/2020| |
|
10/10/2020| |
|
25/09/2020| |
|
18/09/2020| |
|
15/09/2020| |
|
25/08/2020| |
|
22/08/2020| |
|
22/07/2020| |
|
24/06/2020| |
|
11/06/2020| |
|
29/05/2020| |
|
26/05/2020| |
|
20/05/2020| |
|
13/05/2020| |
|
11/05/2020| |
|
10/05/2020| |
|
28/12/2019| |
|
25/12/2019| |
|
05/10/2019| |
|
09/08/2019| |
|
05/08/2019| |
|
31/07/2019| |
|
21/07/2019| |
|
04/07/2019| |
|
07/12/2018| |
|
20/11/2018| |
|
29/08/2018| |
|
18/08/2018| |
|
15/08/2018| |
|
11/08/2018| |
|
25/07/2018| |
|
20/07/2018| |
|
13/07/2018| |
|
08/07/2018| |
|
22/06/2018| |
|
17/03/2018| |
|
11/03/2018| |
|
10/03/2018| |
|
04/02/2018| |
|
02/02/2018| |
|
10/05/2017| |
|
02/12/2016| |
|
13/09/2016| |
|
13/12/2015| |
|
20/03/2015| |
|
28/02/2015| |
|
15/01/2015| |
|
05/09/2014| |
|
27/08/2014| |
|
21/08/2014| |
|
09/08/2014| |
|
21/03/2014| |
|
20/03/2014| |
|
11/03/2014| |
|
29/12/2013| |
|
18/05/2013| |
|
18/05/2013| |
|
08/05/2013| |
|
07/05/2013| |
|
09/03/2013| |
|
22/02/2013| |
|
13/12/2012| |
|
25/11/2012| |
|
18/07/2012| |
|
03/07/2012| |
|
25/06/2012| |
|
14/05/2012| |
|
04/03/2012| |
|
04/03/2012| |
|
03/11/2011| |
|
01/11/2011| |
|
14/10/2011| |
|
06/10/2011| |
|
15/09/2011| |
|
10/09/2011| |
|
08/09/2011| |
|
08/09/2011| |
|
05/09/2011| |
|
05/09/2011| |
|
25/08/2011| |
|
25/08/2011| |
|
13/08/2011| |
|
11/08/2011| |
|
10/08/2011| |
|
29/07/2011| |
|
20/07/2011| |
|
20/07/2011| |
|
17/06/2011| |
|
17/06/2011| |
|
15/05/2011| |
|
15/05/2011| |
|
06/05/2011| |
|
06/05/2011| |
|
23/03/2011| |
|
20/02/2011| |
|
13/02/2011| |
|
27/01/2011| |
|
23/12/2010| |
|
23/12/2010| |
|
15/12/2010| |
|
22/11/2010| |
|
05/10/2010| |
|
03/10/2010| |
|
01/10/2010| |
|
02/09/2010| |
|
02/09/2010| |
|
26/08/2010| |
|
26/08/2010| |
|
25/08/2010| |
|
25/08/2010| |
|
21/08/2010| |
|
21/08/2010| |
|
19/08/2010| |
|
19/08/2010| |
|
24/06/2010| |
|
24/06/2010| |
|
24/05/2010| |
|
19/02/2010| |
|
01/02/2010| |
|
29/01/2010| |
|
27/01/2010| |
|
28/08/2009| |
|
19/02/2009| |
|
28/09/2008| |
|
28/09/2008| |
|
27/08/2008| |
|
27/08/2008| |
|
11/07/2008| |
|
11/07/2008| |
|
11/07/2008| |
|
11/07/2008| |
|
07/02/2008| |
|
13/10/2007| |
|
16/09/2007| |
|
20/05/2007| |
|
20/05/2007| |
|
02/05/2007| |
|
02/05/2007| |
|
07/03/2007| |
|
07/03/2007| |
|
12/12/2006| |
|
12/12/2006| |
|