By Stephanie Busari, CNN
Updated 1637 GMT (0037 HKT) October 11, 2016
MUST WATCH
Source: CNN
Why is Ethiopia in a state of emergency? 01:38
Story highlights
- State of emergency declared for first time since ruling party came to power 25 years ago
- It comes after months of escalating protests around the country
(CNN)The Ethiopian government on Sunday declared a six-month nationwide state of emergency following months of anti-government protests.
It is the first time since the ruling party came to power 25 years ago that a state of emergency has been put in place in Ethiopia.
The country's prime minister said via state media that the steps were taken to restore order following escalating protests around the country.
Among those protesting are Ethiopia's largest ethnic group, the Oromos, who make up at least a third of the country's 100 million people.
Photos: Ethiopia Oromo deaths
Bystanders work to remove an injured man from a ditch.
Hide Caption
4 of 7
Photos: Ethiopia Oromo deaths
People help a man wash his eyes after police used teargas on festival participants.
Hide Caption
5 of 7
Photos: Ethiopia Oromo deaths
A man covers the bodies of festival goers who were killed in the stampede.
Hide Caption
6 of 7
Photos: Ethiopia Oromo deaths
Oromo regional police officers wait in a pickup near a crowd of festival attendees.
Hide Caption
7 of 7
Photos: Ethiopia Oromo deaths
Festival goers flee as police fire teargas into the crowd in Bishoftu, near Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Sunday, October 2. At least 52 people died during the stampede that followed. An estimated two million people had gathered at a sacred lake to take part in the Irreecha ceremony to mark the Oromo New Year.
Hide Caption
1 of 7
Photos: Ethiopia Oromo deaths
Security forces standby as Oromo people cross their wrists above their heads, a gesture that has become a symbol of Oromo anti-government protests.
Hide Caption
2 of 7
Photos: Ethiopia Oromo deaths
According to AFP photographer Zacharias Abubeker the event quickly degenerated, with protesters throwing stones and bottles and security forces responding with baton charges and tear gas grenades.
Hide Caption
3 of 7
Photos: Ethiopia Oromo deaths
Bystanders work to remove an injured man from a ditch.
Hide Caption
4 of 7
Photos: Ethiopia Oromo deaths
People help a man wash his eyes after police used teargas on festival participants.
Hide Caption
5 of 7
Photos: Ethiopia Oromo deaths
A man covers the bodies of festival goers who were killed in the stampede.
Hide Caption
6 of 7
Photos: Ethiopia Oromo deaths
Oromo regional police officers wait in a pickup near a crowd of festival attendees.
Hide Caption
7 of 7
Photos: Ethiopia Oromo deaths
Festival goers flee as police fire teargas into the crowd in Bishoftu, near Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Sunday, October 2. At least 52 people died during the stampede that followed. An estimated two million people had gathered at a sacred lake to take part in the Irreecha ceremony to mark the Oromo New Year.
Hide Caption
1 of 7
Photos: Ethiopia Oromo deaths
Security forces standby as Oromo people cross their wrists above their heads, a gesture that has become a symbol of Oromo anti-government protests.
Hide Caption
2 of 7
Photos: Ethiopia Oromo deaths
According to AFP photographer Zacharias Abubeker the event quickly degenerated, with protesters throwing stones and bottles and security forces responding with baton charges and tear gas grenades.
Hide Caption
3 of 7
Photos: Ethiopia Oromo deaths
Bystanders work to remove an injured man from a ditch.
Hide Caption
4 of 7
But they have been marginalized for decades, with tensions rising recently as the government promoted development that took over Oromo farmland.
Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said: "The state of emergency was declared following a thorough discussion by the Council of Ministers on the loss of lives and property damages occurring in the country.
"We want to put an end to the damage that is being carried out against infrastructure projects, health centers, administration and justice buildings," he said, according to local media reports.
The state of emergency took effect Saturday.
According to local media, officials in the country have shut down mobile Internet service and blocked social media in most parts of Oromia, the largest of Ethiopia's nine regional states.
Protests have raged in the country since at least 52 people died on October 2 during the Oromo holy festival known as Irreechaa.
Activists in Ethiopia disputed the government's accounts and the official death toll of 52. They say security forces fired bullets and tear gas on the crowd and that more than 500 people died.
However, the government blamed "troublemakers" for the clashes, and disputed claims security forces fired on protesters.
Communications minister Getachew Reda told CNN: "Of the people's bodies who were collected, they do not have any bullet wounds whatsoever.
"They were killed in the stampede. The security forces were mostly unarmed..There was no force involved on the part of the security forces."
During the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, Ethiopian marathon runner Feyisa Lilesa protested against what he said was unfair persecution of the Oromo people by the Ethiopian government.
No comments:
Post a Comment