Arrests near 1,600 under Ethiopia’s state of emergency
Ethiopian authorities swoop on business shutdowns, strikes, and ‘looted’ weapons, and impose travel restrictions on foreign diplomats
Addis Ababa — Ethiopian authorities have arrested up to 1,600 people since declaring a state of emergency less than two weeks ago, according to a statement published by the state-controlled Fana broadcaster. The command post, set up by authorities to oversee the state of emergency, said 1,120 people had been arrested in the towns of Shashemene and West Arsi — south of the capital — for "violence and property damage". The towns are in the region of Oromia, home to one of Ethiopia’s largest ethnic groups who, along with the Amhara, have waged nearly a year of protests against a government largely made up of minority Tigrayans. Another 302 people were arrested in the western town of Guji and 110 in the area of Kelem Wolega. According to the statement carried on Fana’s website, authorities seized hundreds of "looted" weapons. About 50 people were also arrested for "trying to deny service" by closing their businesses or calling for strikes in the Amhara region, and three teachers were al...
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