2014–2016 Oromo protests
| 2016 Ethiopian protests | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| File:Screengrab.jpg Ethiopian protesters on Meskel Square being attacked by police, 6 August 2016 | |||
| Date | 5 August 2016[1] – present | ||
| Location | Addis Ababa,[1] Bahir Dar,[1] Oromia Region,[1] north-western and southern regions [2] Ambo, Dembi Dolo, and Nekemt[3] | ||
| Caused by |
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| Goals |
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| Methods | |||
| Resulted in |
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| Parties | |||
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| Lead figures | |||
Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn | |||
| Casualties | |||
| Death(s) | At least 90 shot and killed by police (as of 8 August)[5]- 400 (claimed by activists)[6] | ||
Protests erupted in Ethiopia on 5 August 2016[1] following calls by opposition groups.[3] Protesters demanded social and political reforms including an end to human rights abuses (including government killings of civilians, mass arrests, government land seizures, and political marginalization of opposition groups). The government responded by restricting access to the Internet[7][8] and attacking and arresting protesters.[8]
In the three days leading up to 8 August, Reuters reported that at least 90 protesters[5] had been shot and killed by Ethiopian security forces, marking the most violent crackdown against protesters in sub-Saharan Africa since at least 75 people were killed during protests in Ethiopia's Oromia Region in November and December 2015.[9][10]
Background
Ethiopia has been governed by the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front since they captured the capital and ended the Ethiopian Civil War in 1991. Members of the Tigrayan ethnic group constitute a minority of Ethiopia's population but dominate the senior positions in the country's military and political system while the majority Amhara and Oromo people are marginalized.[11][8]
The country has been experiencing rapid economic growth since the 2000s and is one of the world's fastest-growing economies and is Africa’s second most populous country.[12]
Prior episodes of mass killings by the Ethiopian government include the 2005 Ethiopian police massacres when hundreds of protesters were killed by police and the November and December 2015 protests in the Oromia Region that resulted in the killings of over 100 people by government forces. The 2015 protests were later followed by a police crackdown and the arrests of hundreds of opposition members.[13]
Protests
Oromia State
According to diplomatic, NGO, and opposition sources, protests in the vast Oromia State resulted in the deaths of at least 48 people on 5 and 6 August.[14]
Addis Ababa
On 6 August hundreds of protesters marched on Meskel Square and shouted "we want our freedom" and "free our political prisoners".[14] Dozens of protesters were arrested at the protest by Addis Ababa's police.[15]
Amhara Region
30 people were killed in the Amhara region, with at least 27 people dying in the state capital, Bahir Dar.[14]
Reactions
Domestic
The Ethiopian government blocked Internet access across several regions of the country and blamed "foreign enemies" for the protests. Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn stated, "The government is aware that the ideas and slogans reflected in the demonstrations do not represent the people of Oromo or Gondar."[6]
The Oromo Federalist Congress, an opposition party that is a member of the Forum for Democratic Dialogue, reported that 400 people had been killed in the protests (although Reuters and other international news agencies could only initially confirm a lower figure).[6]
International
The United States Embassy in Addis Ababa released a statement of concern.[16]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g "'Several killed' as Ethiopia police clash with protesters". BBC. 7 August 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
- ^ "Internet shutdown ends as protests continue in Ethiopia". BBC Monitoring. 8 August 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
- ^ a b c Maasho, Aaron (8 August 2016). "At least 33 protesters killed in Ethiopia's Oromiya region: opposition". Reuters. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
- ^ Maasho, Aaron (8 August 2016). "Weekend Protests Across Ethiopia Leave More Than 12 Dead". VOA. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
- ^ a b c Maasho, Aaron (8 August 2016). "At least 90 protesters killed in Ethiopia – residents, opposition". Reuters. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
- ^ a b c Iaccino, Ludovica (8 August 2016). "Amhara and Oromia unrests: Why are Ethiopia's largest ethnic groups protesting?". International Business Times. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
- ^ OONI, Ethiopia: Internet Shutdown Amidst Recent Protests?,Moses Karanja (CIPIT), Maria Xynou, Arturo Filastò 2016-08-10 00:00:00 +0000 UTC , https://ooni.torproject.org/post/ethiopia-internet-shutdown-amidst-recent-protests/
- ^ a b c Warner, Gregory, "PARALLELS: Ethiopia Grapples With The Aftermath Of A Deadly Weekend," August 10, 2016·National Public Radio (NPR), Washington, D.C., USA, retrieved August 13, 2016
- ^ CCTV News (19 December 2015). "At least 75 killed in Ethiopia protests" – via YouTube.
- ^ Times of India, Ethiopia Protests | At Least 140 Killed In Over State Land Plan, 8 January, 2016, YouTube
- ^ Ethiopia: Dozens killed in anti-government protests, Al Jazeera English, 8 Aug. 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ui8fcjltmlI
- ^ "Private Sector Boosts Ethiopia's Growth". IFC. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
- ^ "At least 33 protesters killed in Ethiopia's Oromiya region: opposition". Human Rights Watch. 16 June 2016.
- ^ a b c "Dozens killed in new wave of Ethiopia protests". AFP. 8 August 2016.
- ^ Deaths and Detentions As Protests Flare in Ethiopia , AllAfrica, Addis Standard, 8 August 2016, http://allafrica.com/view/group/main/main/id/00045142.html
- ^ "Several dozen shot dead in weekend protests across Ethiopia". The Washington Post. 8 August 2016.
External links
- Ethiopia pages - U.S. Dept. of State (which includes current State Dept. press releases and reports on Ethiopia)
Media related to 2016 Ethiopian protests at Wikimedia Commons
