An estimated 180 people have died in the violence, some murdered by mobs, others shot by security forces. Relatives of Farhan Ali, 22, claimed he had been killed by security forces after leaving his home in Dire Dawa to visit a neighbour. The ruling party has also suggested that its rival in the northern region of Tigray, the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), masterminded the conspiracy. Government policy has also led to fallouts within the ruling party. State media reported Lemma’s dismissal from the ruling party being due to his “violating party discipline”.

Source: Ethiopian News August 29, 2020 19:07 UTC