This archive report was first published on 31 October 2019.
On October 23, 2019, protests erupted in Addis Ababa and Ethiopia's Oromia region, following a high-profile activist's claim that security forces were planning to attack him. The police denied these allegations.
The situation quickly escalated into ethnic and religious clashes, resulting in the deaths of dozens of people over three days.
According to government spokeswoman Billene Seyoum, 409 individuals had been apprehended in connection with the violence. Investigations were ongoing, and more suspects could be taken into custody.
Billene also announced that the death toll had risen to 78, up from the initial figure of 67 provided by a police official in Oromia the previous week.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019, has faced criticism for his government's response to the violence. Specifically, he was accused of waiting too long to issue a statement.
Billene defended the government's response, dismissing descriptions of Abiy as 'weak'. She attributed the violence to unnamed 'elements' that oppose Abiy's reform agenda, which includes freeing political prisoners and creating a more open political environment.
The latest surge in violence was also linked to plans to transform Ethiopia's ruling coalition into a single political party.
The feud between Abiy and activist Jawar Mohammed, a media mogul and key figure in Abiy's rise to power, highlights divisions within Abiy's Oromo support base. This could complicate his bid for re-election in May 2020.
