Lidetu Becomes the Latest Opposition Party Leader to be Jailed

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Lidetu Ayalew, the founder of the Ethiopian Democratic Party (EDP), has been arrested today on July 24, 2020, with the alleged participation of recent violence that erupted in Bishoftu town, Oromia Regional State, following the killing of Hachalu Hundessa.

The Party’s President Adane Tadesse took to Facebook to break the news of the detainment of their party’s founder and stated that police warrant alleges that Lidetu coordinated and financed the violence in Bishoftu.

Lidetu is a senior opposition leader in the history of Ethiopian politics and was a member of the House of Peoples Representative parliament for five years after winning a seat in election 2005.

It’s to be recalled that Jawar Mohammed and Bekele Gerba the leaders the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC), Eskinder Nega, founder and leader of the Balderas for True Democracy Party Yilikal Getnet, the chairperson of the Ethiopian National Movement (ENM) had been under police custody since June 30, 2020.

The party leaders are suspected of taking different roles in the violence that erupted in the country after the singer’s death.

According to the latest figures released by Oromia Communication Bureau, 7,126 people have been arrested in Oromia Regional State. 718 houses and hotels were burnt, 531 were damaged. The protests also saw 104 government offices, 232 private cars, six factories, and 232 small businesses burnt.

The reports also said that 10,000 people have also been displaced in Oromia following the violence.