Ethiopia: Tensions high in Bahir Dar after August 12 explosion

Event

Reports indicate there are mounting tensions in Bahir Dar on Tuesday, August 15, after a bomb exploded on Saturday, August 12, injuring two people. The explosion came amid a week-long general strike opposing a government tax hike, though the specific motive for the incident remains unclear. As of August 14, authorities have arrested around 200 people participating in the strike.

The Ethiopian government has deployed a massive security presence in Bahir Dar due to mounting tensions, and clashes are possible in the coming weeks. Significant transportation disruptions are also possible as the general strike continues.

Context

A hand grenade exploded in front of the Ethiopian National Lottery building in Bahir Dar, capital of Amhara region, on Saturday, August 12, injuring two people. No group or individual has claimed responsibility. The latest round of protests and strikes follow the Ethiopian government's tax hike for local taxi services including bajajes and minibus taxis. A nationwide strike took place in July 2017 protesting the taxes.

The cities and surrounding areas of Bahir Dar and Gondar are flashpoints for civil unrest and insecurity in the northern Amhara region. In January 2017 two separate explosions hit hotels in Gondar and Bahir Dar, with no confirmed casualties. Though the perpetrators and motives remain unknown, the incidents served as a warning of the potential for increased future violence. Bahir Dar was the scene of deadly anti-government protests in the summer of 2016, in which at least 50 protesters were killed in one day. Socio-economic grievances in Amahara have been exacerbated by long-standing issues of ethnicity and political groupings, including 25 years of discontent and regular demands for self-determination.

Advice

Individuals in Ethiopia are advised to remain vigilant at all times and to report any suspicious behavior or objects to the authorities. As a general precaution, those in the country should avoid any large gatherings and protests, and stay abreast of any changes to the political and security situation. Security forces may crackdown on protests with excessive force.

On a more general note, due to the terrorist threat linked to the Somali group al-Shabaab, the majority of Western governments advise their citizens against all travel to the Ogaden region and other areas along the border with Somalia, as well as nonessential travel to the rest of the Ethiopian Somali region. The Eritrean, Sudanese, South Sudanese, and Kenyan borders are also considered high-risk destinations.