Ethiopia: imprisoned, Oromo opponent Jawar Mohammed continues his hunger strike
Oromo activist Jawar Mohammed was jailed last July with around 20 other political prisoners.
(illustrative image) AFP / File
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Ethiopian opponent Jawar Mohammed has been on hunger strike in prison for two weeks now, and his state of health has reportedly deteriorated.
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The former ally of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was jailed last July with around 20 other political prisoners, following the violence in the Oromia region.
They are accused of terrorism
and incitement to hatred.
Jawar Mohammed and other Oromo opponents had gone on a hunger strike to demand improved treatment for their relatives and supporters visiting them, and also an end to judicial harassment.
Their imprisonment risks compromising their participation in the legislative elections next June, worries Kjetil Tronvoll, professor at the University of Bjorkness in Norway.
“
They are in prison as the June elections approach.
So it is very likely that these important opposition leaders will not be able to participate in the June vote, even if they are released.
"
But the researcher also points out that the deterioration of their state of health could have important consequences.
“
If their state of health deteriorated, and we do not hope so, if they were to die, it would trigger a great protest movement in the Oromia region.
In 2019, when Jawar Mohamed called for help because his bodyguards had been removed by the government, within minutes or hours,
protests broke out
across the Oromia region in support of Jawar.
"
"
He is considered the main leader, as the spokesperson for the Oromia region, and he enjoys great respect throughout the constituency, both among Muslims and Christians,
" recalls Kjetil Tronvoll.
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