People have died in clashes following the death of Hakala Hands Monday
Ethiopian authorities have been hanging on for more violence after two days of unrest following the murder of famous musician Hakalu Hundesa earlier this week.
So far 88 people have died since protests following the killing of Hakola Hakalu, a city 70 miles (110 km) outside the capital, Addis Ababa.
Eight bombs have also been killed in clashes between protesters, security forces and armed gangs as they burned the singer Thursday morning.
The 34-year-old Hayakalu assassination has dealt with decades of government repression and Ethiopia's largest ethnic group, Oromo, has been described as historically excluded from political power.
"The hail [Oromo] has represented the struggle in recent years and the emotions that have driven people to the streets have been tremendous. The ongoing protests have continued with some chaos. Live rounds have been eliminated and have grown very fast," said Ahmed Soliman, East Africa analyst at Chatham House in London.
On Wednesday, gunfire was heard in several neighborhoods of Addis Ababa, and armed gangs and lathi marches roamed the streets. Witnesses described the situation of the youth of Oromo origin as being against other races and the police. At least one police officer was reported dead.
"We had a meeting with the community. They asked us to surrender anything with us, including machetes and sticks. We no longer trust the police for our safety, so we have to trust ourselves and prepare," said one resident, Adis Ababa, who did not name names as the others interviewed.
The army was deployed in some mohallas to keep calm.
Avalo Elo, a professor at Britain's Kill University, said political tensions were triggered by protests over the burial of a hawk in a row in Ambo or Addis Ababa. Capital is subject to the federation, not territorial, control.
"It's very controversial. The Oromos claim that the city [Adis] belongs to them because Oromo is completely in the territorial state," Alo said.
Local media reports that Hakalu's father has criticized the efforts of some Oromo activists and politicians to bury his son in the capital.
"His father, mother, and his family wanted to put him in Ambo. It is not right to put the blame on the government. It is important for the Hakkas to bury the truth," said Hundesa Bonsa, who mourned the funeral at Ambo.
The singer's wife, Santu Demisu Dero, called for a memorial in Addis Ababa in memory of her late husband.
"Hakala is not dead. He is in my heart and will forever listen to millions of Oromo people.
The stadium, which was broadcast live by the Oromo Regional State-owned Oromo Broadcasting Network, was found to be empty.
While police were chasing people away from the ceremony, an Ambo resident said he had tried to attend, but met a group of people who wanted to return home. He said the military, federal police, and regional police were out.
One of Hayes' relatives said, "It is very sad that his body is with only a few people and the security forces are keeping many people away."
The state broadcaster has reportedly arrested Eskinder Nega, a prominent political prisoner, and journalist who runs a pressure group that opposes Oromo's attempt to dominate the capital.
The Addis controversy has led to three years of bloody street demonstrations, which led to his resignation after the appointment of former Prime Minister and Abi Ahmed in 2018.
The new unrest will further impede Abia's efforts to transform the political and economic system into a vast strategically important country.
The 44-year-old won the Nobel Peace Prize last year for his peace deal, which ended with neighboring Eritrea last year, three months after he came to power. After the end of the border war in 2000, the agreement resolved nearly two decades of military stalemate.
The Prime Minister, who was Oromo, praised the reforms made at home, which dramatically changed the atmosphere of what was considered a repressive state. The open abandonment of past abuses drew a line between his administration and his predecessor, as well as former dissidents and large numbers of women who were assigned to senior roles.
However, federal Ethiopia power has traditionally emerged through the control of large ethnic voting groups, and the management of decades-long internal conflicts between the central government and opposition to the protest movement in Abomia is less certain.
“They have done some good things… there has been a lot of progress in regional relations, but very little has been accomplished in addressing tensions as a result of coordination and ethics in the domestic sector,” Soliman said.
The arrest of Oromo opposition leader Bekele Gerba and media mogul Jawar Mohammed on Tuesday was angered, though Abi publicly denounced Hakeel's death and described him as a "brilliant young artist".
Abi has been criticized for failing to deal with widespread human rights violations by security forces and propagandists, saying the government's shutdown of the internet in Addis Ababa would intensify violence.
"Instead of calming down, shutting down Internet authorities, using excessive force and arresting political opposition figures can only worsen the instability.
0 Comments