This archive report was first published on 3 July 2020.
On June 29, 2020, celebrated Ethiopian singer Hachalu Hundessa was tragically killed by unknown people while driving at night.
According to police reports, Hachalu was shot while cruising the streets of Ethiopia in his car.
The motive behind his killing remains unknown, but his death sparked widespread outrage and protests.
As reported by the BBC, the Ethiopian Police confirmed Hachalu's death and stated that the motive of the killing is yet to be established.
Following his death, Hachalu's fans took to the streets, leading to running battles with police and resulting in significant property damage.
As confirmed by Oromia police chief Ararsa Merdasa, a total of 81 people, including three special police force members, lost their lives in the scuffles.
"So far 81 people have been killed, including three Oromia special police force members," Ararsa Merdasa told the press.
The situation escalated to the point where the Ethiopian authorities shut down the internet in parts of the country on July 30, 2020, as protests against the singer's killing spread across the Oromia region.
Police have confirmed that 35 people, including prominent politician Jawar Mohammed, have been arrested following Hachalu's killing.
It was also reported that Hachalu, 34, had recently revealed that he had received death threats.
He was buried on July 2, 2020.
