Ethiopia’s Oromo hold peaceful memorial at Irreecha festival

Ethiopia’s Oromo hold peaceful memorial at Irreecha festival

In Ethiopia, this year’s Irreecha festival brought peaceful but powerful protest as the Oromo people marked the anniversary of last year’s massacre at Bishoftu. More than 1.5 million people were expected to attend the annual thanksgiving celebration. Despite the rainy skies, they came; once there, the crowds chanted anti-government slogans…

Ethiopia extends state of emergency in place since Irreecha

Ethiopia will maintain its state of emergency for an additional four months, following a parliamentary vote Thursday that approved the extension. The Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) said the measure passed unanimously after Ethiopian Defense Minister Siraj Fegessa made his case for additional time before lawmakers still concerned about unrest in…

Ethiopia: Oromo athlete Feyisa reunited with family in U.S.

It was a Valentine’s Day to remember for Ethiopian athlete Feyisa Lilesa, who was reunited with his wife and children in the United States on Tuesday. Feyisa, an Olympic silver medalist in Brazil whose raised-arm protest in solidarity with the Oromo people helped to bring global awareness to Ethiopian human…

#Oromo news network in U.S. works to defeat Ethiopia’s media blackout

Ethiopia’s state of emergency dramatically reduces access to information about the Oromo population from within the country, where independent journalists and bloggers have been silenced for weeks. From outside Ethiopia, however, Oromo journalists and activists continue to provide news of what’s happening behind the veil of tightly controlled state media….

Ethiopia releases 2,000 prisoners, promises political dialogue

Ethiopian officials have released 2,000 people detained during recent weeks of violent protests amid the nation’s current state of emergency. Minister of Defense Siraj Fegessa, speaking at a press briefing on Sunday, declined to say how many people in total had been picked up during mass arrests that followed the…

Ban, global leaders call on Ethiopia to protect human rights

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is urging the Ethiopian government to ensure “the protection of fundamental human rights,” the AP reports. A Ban spokesman said Monday the Secretary General “reiterates his call for calm” and urges inclusive dialogue in Ethiopia. The United States also has expressed its concern over Ethiopia’s…