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Ethiopian army chief shot in failed coup attempt

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Ethiopian army chief shot in failed coup attempt

Ethiopia’s army chief of staff has been shot, the prime minister’s press secretary told Aljazeera on Sunday, hours after a failed coup attempt was reported in a federal state north of the capital.

It was unclear whether General Seare Mekonnen had been killed or wounded.

On Saturday, the government said there had been a failed coup attempt against the head of regional government in Amhara, one of Ethiopia’s nine federal states.

Read also: Istanbul set for re-run election that could cement blow to Erdogan

The developments highlights the challenges facing the nation’s new prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, as he tries to spearhead political reforms amid widespread unrest.

Since he came to power in April last year, Abiy has pushed to open up the once isolated, security-obsessed country. His government has released political prisoners, removed bans on political parties and prosecuted officials accused of gross human rights abuses.

However, ethnic violence, has flared up in many areas, including Amhara, where the regional government was led by Ambachew Mekonnen.

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