Ethiopia: Clashes between protesters and police during the Thanksgiving Festival
Clashes erupted during the Thanksgiving festival in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, (Saturday), between police and hundreds of government opponents, who are calling for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to step down, according to the German News Agency.
The protesters demanded the release of political prisoners, and an eyewitness said that the police arrested some demonstrators, and some protesters were injured.
Protesters were seen chanting “Abe must go” and “We need justice, we need freedom,” as police fired tear gas before storming the ranks of the demonstrators.
Police spokesman Gilan Abdi said he could not comment until he had an official report on the incident.
Ethiopia has been in turmoil since the government attacked local leaders in Tigray state, who questioned Abiy’s eligibility for the post.
This led to months of fighting and accusations of human rights violations against both sides, and the fighting also moved well beyond the Tigray border.
It is noteworthy that the Thanksgiving Festival, known locally as “Erecha”, is a tradition of the Oromo, the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia, to celebrate the end of the rainy season.
