ADDIS ABABA (Halbeeg News) – Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has vowed to take action against the perpetrators of the weekend ethnic violence in various areas on the outskirts of Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa.
The violence which occurred on Saturday and Sunday claimed lives of 23 people and drove thousands of people to flee their homes and seek refuge in schools and other public facilities.
Ethiopian police have detained 200 people in connection with the violence.
The PM who is in Saudi Arabia to witness the signing of a peace agreement with Eritrea described as cowardly the attacks that target minority communities in Addis Ababa and its environs.
“These cowardly attacks represent a grave concern to the unity and solidarity of our people and will be met with an appropriate response,” PM Abiy said.
The attacks suspected to have been executed by Oromo gangs followed a mass rally on Saturday marking the return to Ethiopia of the leadership of the exiled Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) group.
OLF had been fighting for self-determination for Oromo people until recently when the group declared a unilateral cease-fire.
Local residents who spoke to the local media said shops were looted and people attacked by Oromo youth who stormed through streets targeting businesses and homes of ethnic minorities.
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