Trendous viralate
Gelan condominium, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia chaos broke up over the death of Oromia singer Hachalu Hundessa.
Tribal tension in the outcome of the killing of Ethiopian singer Hachalu Hundessa has left at least 166 people dead, officials in Ethiopia say.
The highest police chief said 145 civilians and 11 security personnel died in Oromia region alone. 10 people have been killed in the capital Addis Ababa.
Hachalu, 34, was allegedly killed by Police, sparking anxiety that spread from Oromia where he was seen as a hero.
The reason behind his murder rests unclear. Hachalu had said he had received death threats.
His songs focused on the rights of the country’s Oromo people, Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group, and became anthems in a wave of protests that led to the downfall of the previous prime minister in 2018.
Announcing the latest figures, Oromia deputy police commissioner Girma Gelam said 167 had “sustained serious injuries” during the crisis.
The deputy Police Commissioner said at Gelan condominium that 1,084 people had been arrested, without giving more information.
In his statement, the police official said the violent agitation had now “completely stopped”.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, himself an Oromo, who came to power in April 2018, has warned that those behind Hachalu’s death wanted to derail his reform programme.
“We have two choices as a people. To fall into the trap being set up by detractors or to deviate from their trap and stay on the course of reforms. Choosing the first is to willingly aid them in our demise,” the prime minister said.
Since his youth, Hachalu Hundessa was a spine in the heart of successive governments.
