Ethiopia: Eritreans protest in Addis Ababa November 15

Event

According to local sources, hundreds of Eritrean nationals staged a march on Wednesday, November 15, in Addis Ababa. The protest, which took place between the Genet Hotel and the African Union complex, was held despite a nationwide ban on protests in Ethiopia. The Eritrean nationals were reportedly protesting against religious persecution in their home country and to denounce the Eritrean government's alleged heavy-handed response to recent protests.

Context

On October 30-31 protests broke out in the Eritrean capital Asmara, in the predominantly Muslim neighborhood of Akriya around the Diaa Islamic School of Asmara over the arrest of a Muslim school principal. According the Red Sea Afar Democratic Organization, Eritrea's largest opposition group, 28 people were killed and at least 100 more injured. However, according to the Information Minister, small demonstrations occurred in Asmara and were dispersed without any casualties.

Advice

Individuals in Addis Ababa are advised to avoid all protests as security forces may crack down on demonstrations with excessive force.

On a more general note, due to the terrorist threat in Ethiopia linked to the Somali group Al-Shabaab, many Western governments advise their citizens against 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.