- Title: At least 52 killed in Ethiopia protests over singer's death
- Date: 1st July 2020
- Summary: BISHOFTU, ETHIOPIA (FILE - OCTOBER 1, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MUSICIAN HAACAALUU HUNDEESSAA SINGING DURING IRRECHA FESTIVAL IN BISHOFTU, ETHIOPIA
- Embargoed: 15th July 2020 13:24
- Keywords: Addis Ababa Ethiopia Haacaalu Hundeessaa Oromiya musician killing protests
- Location: BISHOFTU & ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
- City: BISHOFTU & ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
- Country: Ethiopia
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Crime
- Reuters ID: LVA001CKZ8H8N
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:At least 50 people were killed in Ethiopia's Oromiya region in protests following the fatal shooting of a popular singer, a regional spokesman said on Wednesday (July 1), laying bare splits in the prime minister's political heartland ahead of next year's polls.
Musician Haacaaluu Hundeessaa was shot dead on Monday night (June 29) in what police said was a targeted killing.
On Tuesday (June 30), smoke was seen rising from the capital Addis Ababa after protests reflecting anger at the killing.
The dead included protesters and members of the security forces, spokesman Getachew Balcha said. Some businesses had also been set on fire.
Haacaaluu, whose funeral will be held Thursday (July 2), provided a soundtrack to a generation of young protesters. Their three years of bloody street demonstrations forced the unprecedented resignation of the previous prime minister and the appointment of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in 2018.
Abiy and Haacaaluu are Oromo, Ethiopia's largest ethnic group, which has long complained of being excluded from power.
"What our enemies want is that we don't finish the work that we've started." Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed said on Tuesday (June 30).
Abiy has allowed much greater political freedoms and promised the next polls will be free and fair. But his new ruling party, based on a pan-Ethiopian vision, faces stiff competition from newly emboldened regional powerbrokers like Jawar determined to stake claims for their people after decades of repression.
(Production: Kumerra Gemechu, Nazanine Moshir, Matthew Stock, Polly Rider) - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: Audio restrictions: This clip's Audio includes copyrighted material. User is responsible for obtaining additional clearances before publishing the audio contained in this clip.