Ethiopia blames ‘foreign enemies’ for unrest

AFP, ADDIS ABABA: Ethiopia said Monday that “foreign enemies” like Egypt were behind an unprecedented wave of protests that has prompted the government to declare a six-month state of emergency.
Ethiopia’s government is facing the biggest challenge of its 25 years in power, with anti-government protests spreading, foreign owned companies targeted and a harsh security crackdown that has killed hundreds so far failing to quell the unrest.“The kind of threats we are facing, the kind of attacks that are now targeting civilians, targeting civilian infrastructures, targeting investment cannot be handled through ordinary law enforcement procedures,” said communication minister Getachew Reda. Protesters from the majority Oromo and Amhara ethnic groups say they are marginalised by the minority Tigrayan-led government which they accuse of monopolising power and controlling the economy. But Getachew said traditional enemy Egypt had allegedly trained and financed the rebel Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), regarded by Ethiopia as a terrorist group behind the protests.
“We know for a fact that the terrorist group OLF has been receiving all kinds of support from Egypt,” said Getachew.

 

Ethiopia blames foreign enemies for unrest

AFP, ADDIS ABABA: Ethiopia said Monday that foreign enemies like Egypt were behind an unprecedented wave of protests that has prompted the government to declare a six-month state of emergency. Ethiopias government is facing the biggest challenge of its 25 years in power, with anti-government protests spreading, foreign owned companies targeted and a harsh security crackdown that has killed hundreds so far failing to quell the unrest.The kind of threats we are facing, the kind of attacks that are now targeting civilians, targeting civilian infrastructures, targeting investment cannot be handled through ordinary law enforcement procedures, said communication minister Getachew Reda. Protesters from the majority Oromo and Amhara ethnic groups say they are marginalised by the minority Tigrayan-led government which they accuse of monopolising power and controlling the economy. But Getachew said traditional enemy Egypt had allegedly trained and financed the rebel Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), regarded by Ethiopia as a terrorist group behind the protests. We know for a fact that the terrorist group OLF has been receiving all kinds of support from Egypt, said Getachew.