Two Local Officials Killed in Ethiopia's Amhara State by 'Extremist Entities' as State of Emergency Expires
Two local officials in Ethiopia's Amhara state were killed by "extremist entities," believed to be the Fano self-defense militia, after the central government let the state of emergency expire in the conflict-prone region.
The heads of the Efrata Gidim and Kewet woreda were killed on June 2 and 5, respectively.
The government had not sought parliament's approval to extend the state of emergency beyond its June 4 expiration date.
The prime minister's office did not respond to a request for comment.
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) called for the restoration of regular law enforcement and the release of prisoners detained during the state of emergency in a statement on June 5.
The government has been unable to quell the Fano insurgency in Amhara, a region with around 23 million people and the second-largest ethno-linguistic group in Ethiopia.
The influx of refugees from Sudan and Eritrea has added to the tensions in the area.
Last month, the UN reported that around 1,000 refugees had fled a UN-run camp in Amhara due to armed robbery, shootings, and alleged abductions.
The government had not sought parliament's approval to extend the state of emergency beyond its June 4 expiration date.
The prime minister's office did not respond to a request for comment.
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) called for the restoration of regular law enforcement and the release of prisoners detained during the state of emergency in a statement on June 5.
The government has been unable to quell the Fano insurgency in Amhara, a region with around 23 million people and the second-largest ethno-linguistic group in Ethiopia.
The influx of refugees from Sudan and Eritrea has added to the tensions in the area.
Last month, the UN reported that around 1,000 refugees had fled a UN-run camp in Amhara due to armed robbery, shootings, and alleged abductions.
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Translated by AI