Ethiopia: Authorities arrest 1200 over recent political unrest in Addis Ababa /update 1

Event

Ethiopian authorities have arrested some 1200 people over political violence that has affected Addis Ababa in recent weeks. Most of those arrested have been released as of Tuesday, September 25. Further unrest is possible in Addis Ababa in the coming days and weeks.

Context

Protests most recently broke out in Addis Ababa on September 17 to denounce recent intercommunal violence in the Oromia region, resulting in at least five people killed. The protests followed attacks believed to have been carried out by Oromo nationalists from the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) in the localities of Burayu and Ashewa Meda (Oromia region) on September 15-16, killing at least 23 people and prompting scores of residents to flee. Addis Ababa residents demonstrated on September 16 in front of the national ETV broadcaster, calling for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.

Advice

Individuals in Addis Ababa are advised to monitor the situation, avoid all protests and large public gatherings as a precaution, and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities. Government-imposed internet outages in response to local unrest are not rare; it is advisable to make alternative arrangements for communications in anticipation of possible service cuts.