The attacks and the protests coincide with an unprecedented political opening in Ethi­o­pia under its new prime minister, Abiy Ahmed. Although most of the previous violence has taken place in distant regions where up to 2 million people have been displaced, over the weekend it reached the capital, Addis Ababa. Villages on the edge of the city were attacked, many residents were driven from their homes, and reports emerged of killings and rapes. He said an additional 300 people were arrested in Addis Ababa following the protests. As part of his political opening, Abiy, who hails from the Oromo ethnic group, invited many exiled opposition leaders to return to Ethiopia.

Source: Ethiopian News September 17, 2018 13:37 UTC