A ministerial cabinet meeting of the
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) government, chaired by Prime
Minister Hailemariam, has declared a state of emergency throughout the country
effective as of yesterday Oct. 08, 2016. The decision came after a daylong
emergency meeting of the cabinet of PM Hailemariam.
The first since the coming into
power 25 years ago of the ruling EPRDF, the state of emergency is expected to
be approved by the lower chamber, Ethiopian House of People’s Representatives,
after it is tabled by the Prime Minister within the text week, according to
information. Ethiopia’s constitution allows the Prime Minister to table a
bill for a state of emergency to the lower House of Representatives for
approval.
It is not clear as to what exactly
will be included within the provision of the state of emergency. However, it is
expected to give security greater leverage to crush growing protests engulfing
the country.
The ongoing intensive protests
particularly in Oromia regional state, following mass death of civilians at the
annualIrreecha festival last Sunday Oct. 2nd. A
hysteric stampede was caused as a result of security officers’ act of firing
live ammunition and rubber bullets into the air, as well as teargas bombs in
the middle of major parts of a gathering of millions.
Since a week, officials have shut
down mobile internet, blocked social media in most parts of Oromia and all of
Addis Abeba, the capital, and significantly slowed down broadband internet as a
result of protests happening within short radius of the capital.
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