Over 165 people killed in violence in Ethiopia after death of a singer

Protests in Ethiopia over the murder of Ethiopian singer and activist Hachalu Hundessa, who was shot dead in Addis Ababa, escalated into clashes that left at least 166 people dead, according to police.

At least 166 people have been killed and 167 others injured in the protests and community clashes that have rocked Ethiopia since the June 29, concerning the murder of star singer Hachalu Hundessa, police said in a statement broadcast on state-run Fana Broadcasting Corporate television on Saturday 4 July.

“After Hachalu’s death, 145 civilians and 11 members of the security forces lost their lives in unrest in the region,” said the deputy chief of police of the Oromia region, Girma Gelam, quoted by Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Ten other people, including two police officers, were killed in the capital Addis Ababa, according to the capital’s police.

Among the 166 dead, some were killed by the security forces and others in clashes between members of various communities. Girma Gelam also reported a thousand arrests. He assured that the violence had “completely stopped,”.

Murder of Hachalu Hundessa

Hachalu Hundessa, a member of the Oromo majority ethnic group, was shot dead at the wheel of his car on the evening of 29 June in Addis Ababa. Transported to Tirunesh Beijing hospital, he died from his injuries, according to media reports.

Groups of young people began to gather from 30 June in several cities in Oromia State and Addis Ababa. Clashes erupted in several places and lasted until 2 July.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said on 3 July that the three-day violence was an attempt to provoke civil war in the country. He stressed that the attempt had been thwarted.

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