Ethiopia’s PM says army chief of staff shot thwarting coup – TheNigerialawyer

Addis Ababa – Ethiopia’s army chief of staff was shot while
trying to thwart an attempted coup on Saturday in a federal state
north of the capital Addis Ababa, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed
said.

Speaking on state television late on Saturday, Abiy said General
Seare Mekonnen was one of several casualties. But his press
secretary, Billene Seyoum, told Reuters later that it was unclear
whether General Seare had been killed or wounded.

“He was shot by people who are close to him,” Abiy said.

The prime minister said the general had been trying to prevent
plotters carrying out a coup in Amhara state, one of Ethiopia’s
nine federal states.

Since coming to power last year, Abiy has tried to spearhead
political reforms, to open up the once isolated, security-obsessed
country of 100 million people on the Horn of Africa.

Abiy has released political prisoners, removed bans on political
parties and prosecuted officials accused of gross human rights
abuses, but his government is battling mounting violence.

Ethnic bloodshed – long held in check by the state’s iron grip –
has flared up in many areas, including Amhara, where the regional
government was led by Ambachew Mekonnen.

According to Abiy, regional government officials were in a
meeting when a coup attempt occurred.

“There are a few people who were killed while others were
injured,” Abiy said.

A regional television broadcaster affiliated with the Tigray
People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), a member of Abiy’s coalition,
reported Seare had been killed, alongside another senior military
official, Gize Abera.

The US Embassy said on Saturday that it was aware of reports of
gunfire in Addis Ababa, though Reuters could not confirm those
reports.

“Chief of Mission personnel are advised to shelter in place,”
the Embassy said on its website.

Early on Sunday, Brigadier General Tefera Mamo, the head of
special forces in Amhara, told state television that “most of the
people who attempted the coup have been arrested, although there
are a few still at large.”

Residents in Amhara’s capital Bahir Dar said late on Saturday
there was gunfire in some neighbourhoods and some roads had been
closed off.

Ethiopia is due to hold a national parliamentary election next
year. Several opposition groups have called for the polls to be
held on time despite the unrest and displacement.

Reuters

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