Identity-based mass arrests have been reported in the cities of Addis Ababa, Sheger, Bishoftu, and Wolkite. On Sunday, August 13, 2023, Addis Maleda received complaints from residents of Addis Ababa about ethnically based mass arrests in Sheger Township, Wolkite, and Bishoftu towns. These towns were recently established around Addis Ababa. Mass arrests were reported in various places in the capital, including Kotebe, Saris, Kera, Bole Bulbula, and Hana Mariam.
Last week on July 28/2015 in Addis Ababa, a woman reported that her brother was suddenly arrested. “When they arrested him, he texted saying ‘They have arrested us, but we don’t know where they are taking us.’ When we went to the local police station, they said that they are not here at Kokebe Tsabah School. When we went there, they said that the ones here were arrested on Thursday. Because it is in school, we are the ones who deliver food every day,” she told Addis Morning.
In addition to these reports, it has been pointed out that people who have been arrested are sometimes asked to be released. Identity-based arrests are also taking place on a large scale in the Sheger city administration. A person who asked not to be named said that many Amhara natives were arrested, especially in Sebeta city.
For example, the Oromia police have taken four people from the National Alcohol and Liquor Factory and eight Amhara nationals from the nearby Balzaf factory. Selected people who went to interview the prisoners stated that they received information that the Sebata Marmiya House is overcrowded with inmates. “We are bound to be arrested one day. The relevant parties should stop what is happening to the innocent,” one person said.
Another resident of Wolkite city in Gurage zone told Addis Morning that recently in Wolkite city, regional police and federal police members have been conducting a joint search in areas where Amhara people live in large numbers. Following this search, innocent and peaceful citizens of the Amhara nation have been singled out and taken to prison en masse since five o’clock on Friday night on August 12, 2023.
The security forces went to their houses at night and entered by force. They explained that they will be taken to prisons and undisclosed places without reason or court orders. The security forces physically beat people and violated their human rights while arresting them.
“People who are arrested are not involved in any political activity and most of them are laborers,” residents said. “We don’t know why the security forces are doing this.” They added: “We are in hiding because of the fear that they can arrest us without our participation in any crime.”
On the other hand, it has been a week since similar actions started taking place in Bishoftu city, especially in an area known as Keble Four. In addition to door-to-door inspections, actions will be carried out at workplaces and on the streets by Oromia Police and Militia as well as Federal Police.
Residents mentioned that this incident may be related to fighting between National Defense Forces and Fano militants in the Amhara region. “Mass arrest of innocent people who have not been involved in any crime is not an appropriate course of action,” they said.
Based on complaints submitted by citizens of Addis Morning to relevant government bodies; Addis Ababa Police Commission Public Relations Officer Commander Markos Tadese refused to give information over the phone and said: “You can observe the situation in person.” Gurage Zone Police Commander Muhammad also refused to provide information.
Source- Addis Maleda
I strongly erge all Ethiopians of all nationality to strongly condemn, prosperity party’s actions in the Amhara’s region. This is a road that will take Ethiopia to a civil war that will involve all nationalities.