Ethiopia bans protests, publications that incite violence during emergency rule
Ethiopia has banned protests and publications that incite violence following a state of emergency imposed on Friday, Defence Minister Siraj Fegessa said on Saturday.
The state of emergency came a day after the Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn announced his resignation on Thursday, also resigning as the chairman of the ruling coalition.
The U.S. embassy in Ethiopia said on Saturday said it disagreed with the government’s decision to impose a state of emergency to calm potential unrest the day after the prime minister’s surprise resignation, Reuters reports.
“We strongly disagree with the Ethiopian government’s decision to impose a state of emergency that includes restrictions on fundamental rights such as assembly and expression,” the statement said.
“We recognize and share concerns expressed by the government about incidents of violence and loss of life, but firmly believe that the answer is greater freedom, not less,” it said.
Desalegn’s resignation comes amid persistent political upheavals in the Horn of African country which has been releasing hundreds of political detainees to ease tensions.
