Earth Science News
AFRICA NEWS
Calm returns to Ethiopian region hit by protests
Calm returns to Ethiopian region hit by protests
by AFP Staff Writers
Addis Ababa (AFP) April 13, 2023

Calm has returned to Ethiopia's protest-hit Amhara region, residents told AFP on Thursday, after several days of public demonstrations against government plans to dismantle regional military forces.

Authorities had imposed restrictions, including a curfew and curbs on movement in five cities in Amhara, earlier this week following the protests over moves to integrate regional military forces into the federal army or regional police.

On Thursday, a resident of Bahir Dar, the region's administrative capital, told AFP that transport had resumed in the city.

"Today is peaceful. Banks are open and shops are starting to open," he told AFP on condition of anonymity.

A resident of Debre Birhan, where authorities imposed curbs on Monday, told AFP in a text message that "everything is calm".

Another resident based in Amhara's most populous city Gondar said the situation was peaceful on Thursday, as Ethiopians prepare for the Orthodox Easter holiday.

It was not possible to independently confirm the situation on the ground in Amhara, as the region is restricted to journalists for what the authorities say are security reasons.

The violence erupted after the government announced plans to dismantle unconstitutional military forces established by some states to protect their interests in Africa's second-most populous nation.

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission on Wednesday reported "deaths and physical injuries to civilians including relief aid organisation workers", adding that the casualties were due to "measures taken by security forces and as well as attacks by... unidentified people".

"The relevant authorities have to solve the issue by dialogue and consensus," it said.

Humanitarian charity Catholic Relief Services (CRS) said two of its staff were shot dead at the weekend in Amhara, but did not elaborate on whether the attacks were connected to the protests.

Amhara forces were essential allies to the federal army during the two-year war in the neighbouring Tigray region, which ended with a peace agreement in November.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said on Sunday that the initiative to dismantle the regional forces was for the sake of multi-ethnic Ethiopia's "unity" and warned that law enforcement measures would be taken against any "destructive" opposition.

The National Movement of Amhara, a local opposition group, has described the move to disarm the special forces as "completely irresponsible" and a threat to regional security.

On Thursday the AMC media outlet, affiliated with the Amhara regional government led by Abiy's party, said members of the special forces in the South Wollo administrative zone had "gratefully" agreed to be reassigned "to the police, prison service or other institutions."

They "stressed that claims of dismantling the Amhara forces were the result of misinformation" and said "the government's decision to reorganize the regional forces for greater efficiency was the right one," according to AMC, echoing the message that has been coming from Addis Ababa for several days.

strs-ayv/sva/amu/np/lcm/gw

Related Links
Africa News - Resources, Health, Food

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
AFRICA NEWS
Germany vows further support for Sahel after Mali exit
Berlin (AFP) April 12, 2023
Germany will stay committed to security in the Sahel after the planned withdrawal of its troops from Mali, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said Wednesday as he embarked on his first visit to the region. "Security in the Sahel region is in Germany's particular interest," Pistorius said in a statement ahead of the trip to Niger and Mali. "Although we are ending our military involvement in (the UN mission in Mali), we remain committed to the region," he said. The UN mission in Mali, MINUSMA, w ... read more

AFRICA NEWS
'Really hard' -- the life of an Amazon Brazil nut harvester

Spain vows to block farming near threatened wetlands

Historic drought adds to Argentina's economic woes

Quake hit one-fifth of Turkey's food production: UN

AFRICA NEWS
El Nino and +IOD expected to severely impact global weather in coming months

Bangladeshis pray for rain as temperatures soar

Water, water everywhere: Wet winter boosts California's reservoirs

Critical observations of sinking coasts

AFRICA NEWS
Iraq's ancient treasures sand-blasted by climate change

Tunisia drought threatens 'catastrophic' grain harvest

Unsound climate studies sneak into print: scientists

COP28 head urges 'accessible' global climate finance

AFRICA NEWS
High-efficiency sustainable solar cells for IoT devices with AI-powered energy management

ESA developing concepts for commercial-scale Space-Based Solar Power plants

KAUST team sets world record for tandem solar cell efficiency

Microwaves advance solarcell production and recycling

AFRICA NEWS
Dutch refinery to feed airlines' thirst for clean fuel

Low concentration CO2 can be reused as plastic precursor using artificial photosynthesis

Queensland biofuel refinery to turn agricultural by-products into sustainable aviation fuel

Turning vegetable oil industry waste into power

AFRICA NEWS
Biden to hold first meeting with Colombia's leftist president

UAE and China promise Pakistan $1.3 bln to get IMF deal on track

China official visits Nicaragua to launch housing initiative

Nicaragua breaks ground on housing construction with aid from China

AFRICA NEWS
G7 pledges to quit fossil fuels faster, but no new deadline

Brazil president meets UAE leader after China visit

Targets for a heating planet: G7 climate commitments

How Japan's big plans for a 'hydrogen society' fell flat

AFRICA NEWS
China's economy expected to rebound as zero-Covid era fades

EU chief urges leaders not to let China divide bloc

Xi tells Lula China's development will create opportunities for Brazil

Asian markets drop but pare losses after China data

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.