2016 Ethiopian protests

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2016 Ethiopian protests
Date 5 August 2016[1] – present (2 months, 2 weeks and 4 days)
Location Addis Ababa,[1] Bahir Dar,[1] Oromia Region,[1] north-western and southern regions [2] Ambo, Dembi Dolo, and Nekemt[3]
Causes
  • Hundreds of killings and thousands of arrests in recent months by police[1]
  • Human rights abuses[1] (detention of opposition demonstrators)[1] Oromia Region[3]
  • Official status dispute over Wolkayt district[3]
  • Unfair distribution of wealth[4]
  • Political marginalization[1]
  • Land seizures by the Ethiopian government
Goals
Methods
Status
  • At least 90 shot and killed by police (as of 8 August)[5]– 500 (claimed by Human Rights Watch)[6]
  • Thousands of protesters attacked and/or arrested by police
  • Suspected jailbreak attempt at Kaliti Prison resulting in at least 23 deaths
  • Human stampede resulting from police confrontation results in the deaths of 52-300 people
  • Six-month state of emergency declared in October[6]
Parties to the civil conflict
Ethiopia General public protesters
Lead figures
Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn
Casualties
Death(s) 500+ (as of October 2016)

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][9]

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.[10][11]

At least 500 people are estimated to have been killed in total as of October 2016.[12]

Background[edit]

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.[8][13]

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.[14]

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.[15]

Protests[edit]

Oromia State[edit]

According to diplomatic, NGO, and opposition sources, protests in the vast Oromia State resulted in the deaths of at least 148 people on 5 and 6 August.[16]

Two months later, more protests occurred during a religious festival in Bishoftu. Policemen confronted the protesters, with reports stating that stones and bottles were thrown at them, while other reports stating that this is not true. The confrontation resulted in a human stampede that brought about the deaths of 52 to 300 people (52 is only the Ethiopian Government admitted).[17]

Addis Ababa[edit]

On 6 August hundreds of protesters marched on Meskel Square and shouted "we want our freedom" and "free our political prisoners".[16] Dozens of protesters were arrested at the protest by Addis Ababa's police.[18]

Amhara Region[edit]

More than 500 people protested in the Amhara region, with at least 27 people dying in one day in the state capital, Bahir Dar.[16]

Kaliti Prison[edit]

A suspected attempted jailbreak from Kaliti Prison resulted in a fire near Addis Ababa. Two prisoners were claimed to have been killed trying to escape, while 21 other inmates were said to have perished from "stampede and suffocation". At least 23 people were killed in total.[19]

Reactions[edit]

Domestic[edit]

The Ethiopian government denied violence being committed by the country's security forces, naming regional rivals Eritrea and Egypt as the origins for the ongoing unrest.[6][20]

International[edit]

The United States Embassy in Addis Ababa released a statement of concern.[21]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "'Several killed' as Ethiopia police clash with protesters". BBC. 7 August 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2016. 
  2. ^ "Internet shutdown ends as protests continue in Ethiopia". BBC Monitoring. 8 August 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2016. 
  3. ^ a b c d Maasho, Aaron (8 August 2016). "At least 33 protesters killed in Ethiopia's Oromiya region: opposition". Reuters. Retrieved 8 August 2016. 
  4. ^ Maasho, Aaron (8 August 2016). "Weekend Protests Across Ethiopia Leave More Than 12 Dead". VOA. Retrieved 8 August 2016. 
  5. ^ a b Maasho, Aaron (8 August 2016). "At least 90 protesters killed in Ethiopia – residents, opposition". Reuters. Retrieved 8 August 2016. 
  6. ^ a b c Iaccino, Ludovica (10 October 2016). "EU calls for dialogue with Ethiopia as state of emergency declared". International Business Times. 
  7. ^ 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/
  8. ^ 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
  9. ^ Gettleman, Jeffrey (August 12, 2016). "'A Generation Is Protesting' in Ethiopia, Long a U.S. Ally". NYT. 
  10. ^ CCTV News (19 December 2015). "At least 75 killed in Ethiopia protests" – via YouTube. 
  11. ^ Times of India, Ethiopia Protests | At Least 140 Killed In Over State Land Plan, 8 January 2016, YouTube
  12. ^ http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/10/ethiopia-killed-oromia-festival-stampede-161002100716026.html
  13. ^ Ethiopia: Dozens killed in anti-government protests, Al Jazeera English, 8 Aug. 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ui8fcjltmlI
  14. ^ "Private Sector Boosts Ethiopia's Growth". IFC. Retrieved 27 December 2012. 
  15. ^ "At least 33 protesters killed in Ethiopia's Oromiya region: opposition". Human Rights Watch. 16 June 2016. 
  16. ^ a b c "Dozens killed in new wave of Ethiopia protests". AFP. 8 August 2016. 
  17. ^ http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-37534387
  18. ^ Deaths and Detentions As Protests Flare in Ethiopia , AllAfrica, Addis Standard, 8 August 2016, http://allafrica.com/view/group/main/main/id/00045142.html
  19. ^ "Ethiopia fire kills 23 at prison 'holding Oromo protesters' - BBC News". 
  20. ^ "Ethiopia blames Egypt and Eritrea over unrest". BBC News. 2016-10-10. Retrieved 2016-10-11. 
  21. ^ "Several dozen shot dead in weekend protests across Ethiopia". The Washington Post. 8 August 2016. 

External links[edit]

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