Murder of Oromo singer takes Ethiopia to the edge

No one is a prophet in his own country. Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopian Prime Minister and Nobel Peace Prize, experiences it bitterly every day. Crowned with his prestigious prize, the head of the Ethiopian government fails to put an end to the inter-ethnic conflicts which are plaguing his country. The murder of hired singer Hachalu Hundessa, who was shot dead Monday, June 29 in Addis Ababa, is another illustration. "Ethiopia has reached such a level of tension that it has become a real powder keg. And Hachalu's death could be the spark that will set the country ablaze," says Gérard Prunier, historian and specialist in Ethiopia in an interview with France 24.  

In fact, the day after the singer's death, from the Oromo ethnic group, at least 59 people were killed and several seriously injured during demonstrations to protest against his assassination, mostly in the Oromia region. It must be said that this is not the death of a simple performer of catchy music. "This singer had become one of the icons of the political demand movement of the Oromo, in particular youth groups", abounds Éloi Ficquet, lecturer at EHESS and specialist in the Horn of Africa for France 24. 

Strong tensions stir # Ethiopia 🇪🇹 after the murder of the famous singer #HachaluHundessa, of the majority ethnic group #Oromo, shot dead on Monday pic.twitter.com/slg8kc2D3X

A "precious life"

The 34-year-old idol fell under the fire of one or more attackers in the street in a suburb south of Addis Ababa, according to the first elements of the investigation. The motive for his assassination is still unknown, but "suspects" have already been arrested, police said.  

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, himself Oromo, but disputed within his own ethnic group, immediately expressed his "sorrow" at the loss of "this precious life". At the same time, the government cut the Internet in the capital, Addis Ababa, to avoid any risk of overflows.  

Monster demonstrations of young Oromos and an avalanche of violoncels are spreading everywhere in the main cities of the Oromia region following the assassination yesterday of the singer singer Haalaaluu Hundeessaa in the capital of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa. pic.twitter.com/QlVBYzJEIe

The facts do not end there. While the artist's remains were to be repatriated to his hometown of Ambo, located in the Oromia region, west of Addis Ababa, to be buried there, a group of Oromos attempted to take the body and bring it back to Addis Ababa to offer a national funeral to the one they consider a martyr.

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Media opponent Jawad Mohammed arrested

After clashes with the police, 35 protesters were arrested, including the opponent Jawar Mohammed. This arrest risks stirring up tensions in the country a little more: the mere rumor of his arrest last October had been enough to start riots in Oromia and cause the death of 86 people. Nevertheless, "this event is a good opportunity for the power to get rid of this annoying opponent", underlines Gérard Prunier.   

Just lockdown in Adis Abeba not by covid it after death of #HachaluHundessa pic.twitter.com/7qOn13w85I

Jawar Mohammed, 34, was however a few months ago considered the architect of the victory of the current Prime Minister. Both men indeed belong to the Oromo community, the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia. But a few months after coming to power - the most formidable enemies often born in his own camp -, Jawar Mohammed became the Prime Minister's chief detractor. Although Ahmed Abiy is the first Oromo head of government in modern history, many nationalists, including Jawar Mohammed and singer Hachalu Hundessa, are part of him, accusing him of not doing enough to defend the interests of his community.

Oromo singer murdered in Ethiopia: Abiy Ahmed denounces an attempt at "destabilization" https://t.co/owokxA1CcE pic.twitter.com/Jj6FIv0Zvt

The E Ethiopia  deadlocked

The rivalries between Abiy Ahmed and his opponent "illustrate well the divisions which reign within the 38 million Oromo people who live in Ethiopia", explains Gérard Prunier. On the ground, "tensions have not stopped in the country, especially in western Ethiopia, the Wollega region where supporters of the OLF (Oromo Liberation Front) confront supporters of Abiy Ahmed", continues Éloi Ficquet .

Economic difficulties are compounded by ethnic conflicts. "Prices are constantly increasing. This affects especially the urban population, the tertiary economy. Are the rural population able to get through the crisis? Are the safety nets provided by the State sufficient to make the submission preferable to withdrawal? More questions than answers ... ", laments Éloi Ficquet.   

Monuments symbols of Amhara imperialism are ransacked and burned. Does the death of the star artist of revolutionary songs Oromos risk rekindling latent inter-ethnic conflicts in Ethiopia? And what consequence for our country, Djibouti? pic.twitter.com/sK0rksxdNY

Uncertainty is spreading across all areas. The general elections were postponed for a year, first because of these ethnic tensions, then because of the Covid-19 pandemic, thus prolonging by one year the maintenance of Abiy Ahmed at the head of the government. "Invested in power, without election, by a party that he has dismantled, concludes the researcher, Abiy Ahmed nevertheless counts on his personal aura, his mastery of intelligence systems (…) and on the support of the international community" for stay in power. 

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