Over 1,200 people have been arrested by Ethiopian officials for their roles in a deadly violence that erupted in the capital this month.
The violence took place between September 12 and 17. There were attacks on minorities in Ethiopia’s ethnic Oromo heartland outside Addis Ababa.
The chaos escalated during a rally marking the return to Ethiopia of leaders of the exiled Oromo Liberation Front (OLF).
The OLF waged a four-decade insurgency demanding self-determination for Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group.
Ethiopia’s Oromo make up about a third of the population. They have complained of being marginalised under several governments.
The violence led to the death of 28 people died. A senior police official, Degfie Bedi told journalists that “The majority were beaten to death. Seven were killed by security forces”.
“1,204 are in custody, but they are now being rehabilitated for a short period of time,” Degfie Bedi said.
The latest violence is seen as a blow the efforts by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to restore peace to the restive regions of Ethiopia.
Abiy is the first Oromo leader to hold the Prime minister position. He is hoping to reconcile the diverse ethnic groups in the country.
Source: Africafeeds.com
