Ethiopia PM says 'fake news' fuelling Somali regional crisis, urges calm

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has stressed that the security situation in Ethiopia’s Somali region was going to be resolved through peaceful consultations.

His latest comments came after he paid a visit to the head of Ethiopia Orthodox Tewahdo Church, His Holiness Abuna Merkorios on Saturday.

According to chief of staff Fitsum Arega, “PM Abiy said the situation is under control & will be resolved through peaceful consultations. He urged the public to go about their daily lives without being distracted by falsehoods & fabricated stories.”

HE PM Abiy Ahmed visits this afternoon His Holiness Abune Merkorios, the 4th Patriarch of the #Ethiopia Orthodox Tewahdo Church, who returned to his homeland recently. They discussed the timeless message forgiveness and love. pic.twitter.com/CMKkPMq9l7

— Fitsum Arega (@fitsumaregaa) August 11, 2018

This is the second comment Abiy has made on the situation in one week. On Monday the PM said he deplored the violence and destruction of property in the regional capital Jijiga and Dire Dawa – a chartered city in the region.

“He expresses his condolences for the tragic loss of lives both in Dire Dawa and Jigjiga. These tragedies and cycle of violence must end,” his chief of staff said in a tweet.

The region’s internal administration came to a head last week as federal security agents moved to Jijiga. An armed standoff resulted resulting in the loss of lives, destruction of property and birth of a humanitarian crisis.

Internet and transport have been restricted in the region according to the Addis Standard news portal.

The region’s leader since 2005, Mahmoud Omar, known as Abdi Illey, has since resigned his position and is being held in federal custody in the capital, Addis Ababa.