Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed recently announced that violent tensions in his country have risen with thousands displaced and over thirty churches burnt in the past two years, according to CBN. Over the weekend, nearly 90 citizens were also killed in a violent protest over religion and ethnicity.
According to the Guardian, the protest was sparked by activist Jawar Mohammed who claimed that government officials were trying to silence him. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission estimates that 10 out of the 89 deaths from the protest were caused by government security forces. Churches and at least one mosque were also hit during the attack.
The protestors killed were from the Oromo and Amhara ethnic groups and were both Muslim and Christians, as reported by Reuters. Over 400 people were also arrested.
The announcement shows the long road ahead for Ethiopia and Abiy to bring peace.
“We have to stop those forces who are trying to pull us two steps back while we are going one step forward,” Abiy said at a press conference.
The Prime Minister recently made headlines as the recipient of a Nobel Peace Prize, according to Christianity Today. The 43-year-old activist is known for his reconciliation efforts. He ended a border war with the neighboring country of Eritrea and released thousands of political prisoners, as well as brought healing to a division in the…
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