Ethiopia: Capital of Amhara region shut down in memory of 2016 protest deaths

Bahir Dar, capital of Ethiopia’s Amhara region was almost shutdown on Monday but police and residents accounts seem to differ on the cause of the shutdown.

According to local media reports, the shutdown was in commemoration of deadly security crackdown on protesters last year. It affected businesses and the transport system in the otherwise bustling city.

Photos shared on social media showed deserted streets with most small businesses closed. Reports also indicate that some businesses in the other region hit by the protests, Oromia, also closed in solidarity.

Bahir Dar is in a stay-at-home strike in remembedance f
innocents killed last yr on this
day 4 peaceful demo in
demand of their rights.

— Belay manaye (@Belay_Ma) August 7, 2017

Small business owners in Ambo, Oromia region closed shops. Residents in Bahirdar, Amhara region are staying at home. #Ethiopia pic.twitter.com/mtJ5lBweie

— Agaz Shemsu Bireda (@GurageFirst) August 7, 2017

Police chief of Amhara State Walelegn Dagnew, also confirmed a bomb blast in the region had occured on Sunday, but he blamed ‘anti-peace elements’ for both situations – the blast and closure of some businesses.

Spreading anti-government protests reached the city on August 7, 2016 after it had taken place in Addis Ababa and in the Oromia region.

The protesters at the time accused regime affiliated to the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) of marginalising the poor largest northern regions of Amhara and Oromia. They also demanded the release of arrested activists.

“This is a mass civil disobedience movement that is not being organized by political parties. People are tired of this regime and express their anger everywhere,” chairman of the Oromo People’s Congress, Merera Gudina, told AFP. Gudina is currently being held on charges of terrorism.