Oromo singer murdered in Ethiopia: Abiy Ahmed denounces an attempt to "destabilize"

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Calm has returned to Ethiopia, in the aftermath of the deadly demonstrations triggered by the assassination of a famous singer and activist for the Oromo cause. The body of Hachalu Hundessa was repatriated to his hometown of Ambo, where his funeral is scheduled for Thursday.

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In his televised address Tuesday evening, Abiy Ahmed did not name those he was targeting by denouncing the assassination of the Oromo youth idol . The latter's murder, he said, was "  committed and inspired by internal and foreign enemies, with the aim of destabilizing the peace and preventing us from finishing the things that we started  ". The implication could target Egypt and its potential accomplices, and allude to the Ethiopian Renaissance barrage.

The chief of the federal police also made a point on the investigation. He said that "  several suspects  " had been arrested and that the singer had been killed in his car, during a "  well organized and sophisticated operation  ". The goal, he said, was to “  plunge  ” the country “  into chaos  ”.

In fact, Tuesday's protests were deadly. The Oromiya police spokesman spoke of 50 dead, including at least one policeman in the capital. A police officer who was allegedly killed in a clash with the bodyguards of Oromo opponent Jawar Mohamed, arrested with his escort and one of his party leaders, Bekele Gerba.

Three bombs also allegedly exploded during clashes in the capital. And for the first time, several statues of former Ethiopian emperors have been destroyed by angry young oromos.

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• Ethiopia
• Abiy ahmed

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