At least three people were killed and others injured after protests erupted in Ethiopia following the killing of a prominent singer Hachalu Hundessa.
Hundessa famed for his political songs, was shot in Addis Ababa on Monday night, according to state-affiliated FANA Broadcasting Corporate.
Following his death, large crowds or protesters poured into the capital mainly from the Oromia region, blocking traffic.
Adama town also experienced heavy violence, with reports of gunshots injuries.
“There are a lot of casualties, most of them are bullet injuries. Three patients died and there are still critical patients,” AFP quotes Dr. Desalegn Fekadu, a surgeon at the Adama Hospital.
“There are also more than 10 patients with burn injuries. They said their houses were set on fire.”
Police have detained suspects in connection with Hundessa’s killing, but the motive for the cat remains unclear.
The U.S. embassy said on Tuesday that it was “monitoring reports of protest and unrest, including gunfire throughout Addis Ababa”.
It also said there was a protest outside the US embassy.
“Police have been deployed around the city in response to reports of violence. The situation is volatile at this time. Please remain in your homes until further notice.”
The violence threatens to derail Ethiopia’s fraught democratic transition, overseen by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, last year’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
In a twitter post, Abiy expressed “deep sorrow” and appealed for calm. He described Hachalu as a “shining young artist”.
