10 killed as Ethiopia forces clash with protesters in Oromia

About ten people have been killed in the town of Ambo in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, German broadcaster DW’s Amharic Service has reported.

DW cited Gadisa Desalegn, Ambo city communication head, as confirming the deaths of anti-government protesters, following the deployment of ‘Agazi’ – a special elite unit of the Ethiopian security forces.

Local media portals have also reported that 20 people have been wounded, some private properties have been affect in the clashes.

Federal Agazi forces open fire on #Oromo protesters. 10 dead. 20 wounded in Ambo, the hotbed of Oromo resistance against #Ethiopia-n state. https://t.co/M5uznVqnnT

— Mohammed Ademo (@OPride) October 26, 2017

A local media portal, Addis Gazetta, reported that the latest round of protest was linked to recent shortages of sugar in the country. They shared pictures on Wednesday when protesters blocked trucks belonging to the national sugar company.

Ambo located in the Oromia region – the country’s biggest – was the heartbeat of spreading anti-government protests that started in late 2015 through to the better part of last year.

To quell the spreading protests which hit the northern Amhara region, Addis Ababa imposed a state of emergency. The six-month measure eventually run for ten months and was only lifted in August 2017.

The Horn of Africa country – a key ally of the west and a regional economic powerhouse, has severally been charged to undertake political reforms and to respect the rights of political opponents.

Ethiopia, despite its internal political issues, is seen as a security leader in the region. It is engaged in the fight against Al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Shabaab. It is also in the forefront of peacekeeping, humanitarian and political efforts hoping to stabilize neighbouring South Sudan.

Protesters in Ambo hijacked trucks belonging to ESC, today afternoon, demanding that the corporation cease hoarding sugar #Ethiopia pic.twitter.com/awY8R6dE8t

— Addisgazetta (@addisgazetta) October 25, 2017