ETHIOPIA: Deaths from protests against Nobel price awarded to PM rises to 78

The death toll arising from violent protests against Nobel peace laureate and Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed has risen from 27 to 78 authorities say.

No fewer than 400 people have also been arrested by security forces in connection with the killings and destruction of property which hit parts of the country last week especially in the Oromo and Oromia regions of the country.

According to Billene Seyoum, the press secretary to the Prime Minister, the violence broke out after an influential activist from the Oromo ethnic group, Jawar Mohammed, said on Facebook that the government was trying to endanger his life by removing his bodyguards.

READ ALSO: School girl dies in Burundi after ‘brutal caning’ by teacher

Billene also said the violence had an ethnic and religious dimension to it and had been exacerbated by the involvement of forces “that push to create a climate of fear and hopelessness”.

Reports say the demonstrations have reportedly witnessed the closure of major roads in cities across Oromia, including those linking the region to Addis Ababa.

The violence in Oromia and Oromo regions is a deeply worrying reminder of just how volatile the country is with fresh general elections due for next year.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now