This archive report was first published on 13 August 2020.
Published on August 13, 2020, authorities in Ethiopia's Oromia region have arrested over 1,700 government officials and employees in connection with last month's deadly unrest.
The unrest, sparked by the assassination of popular musician Hachalu Hundesa, resulted in the deaths of at least 240 civilians and police officers, as well as the destruction of dozens of residential buildings, business premises, and government office blocks.
According to a statement by the Oromia regional communication affairs bureau, the officials, including heads of administration in towns and districts, were arrested for failure to discharge their responsibility during the violence.
Some government officials were accused of playing a role in spreading the violence to various Oromia regional towns, while others were accused of lending their weapons to attackers.
Following the week-long protests, thousands of people fled their homes for safety, and the government arrested over 3,500 people in Addis Ababa and in larger parts of the Oromia region.
Meanwhile, the ruling Prosperity Party (PP) branch in the Oromia region has suspended the membership of Ethiopia's Defense minister Lemma Megersa in the executive central committee, along with two others, Teyba Hassen and Milkessa Midega, over alleged failure to discharge their duties and acting unilaterally contrary to the party's regulations.
