Ethiopia: At Least 150 Killed In Clashes Following Death Of Outspoken Singer

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At least 150 people have been killed in the Oromia region of Ethiopia as riots following the killing of a popular singer continue. 

Known for his political songs, popular singer Hachalu Hundessa’s death has heightened ethnic tensions in Ethiopia, as the protests spread to the Oromia region, where Hundessa was born.

Most of the deaths occurred in Oromia with others killed in the capital of Addis Ababa by security forces or in cases of inter-ethnic violence in the past week. At least 2,000 people have been arrested. 

Authorities cut internet services in an attempt to dampen protests, making it difficult for rights monitors to track the killings.

Hundessa was gunned down Monday night in Addis Ababa, a week after he appeared on the Oromia Media Network, where he challenged a question about his support for the national government and noted that he “didn’t support anybody but the Oromo people.”

The musician was ethnic Oromo, a group that has a long history of being discriminated against.   

Since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power in 2018, ethnic groups’ demands for political, social, and economic inclusion and in some cases, independence have been growing. 

VOA

The VOA is the Voice of America

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