Image copyright Reuters Image caption A torched bus in the Sebeta region of Ethiopia

Ethiopia has declared a state of emergency following months of anti-government protests by members of the country's two largest ethnic groups.

The Oromo and the Amhara make up about 60% of the population. They complain power is held by a tiny Tigrean elite.

Violence has intensified since last Sunday when at least 55 people were killed in clashes between police and protesters at an Oromo festival.

Hundreds have died in months of protests, human rights groups say.

Tens of thousands have also been detained, they say.

Declaring the state of emergency, Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said in a televised address: "We put our citizens' safety first. Besides, we want to put an end to the damage that is being carried out against infrastructure projects, education institutions, health centres, administration and justice buildings."

The state of emergency will last for six months.

BBC World Service Africa editor Mary Harper says the violent protests are the most serious threat to Ethiopian stability in a quarter of a century.

Ethiopia's ethnic make-up

Oromo - 34.4%

Amhara - 27%

Somali - 6.2%

Tigre - 6.1%

Sidama - 4%

Gurage - 2.5%

Others - 19.8%

Source: CIA World Factbook estimates from 2007

The protesters have been attacking foreign companies, she says, threatening Ethiopia's reputation as a growing economy, ripe for international investment.

The details of the state of emergency remain unclear, but she adds that protesters have already shown they will not back down when faced with force.

Many roads into and out of the capital, Addis Ababa, are blocked by protesters.

The protests since last November are for manifold reason, and include:

Farmers displaced to make way for commercial agriculture

Amhara communities opposed to their inclusion in Tigray rather than the Amhara region

Discontent among groups in various parts of the vast Oromia region

Muslims unhappy at the imposition of government-approved leaders

In the most recent unrest in Oromia, at least 55 people were killed in a stampede.

Opposition activists blame the police for causing panic at the annual Ireecha celebrations - a traditional Oromo religious festival. The government blames "anti-peace forces" demonstrating in the crowd.

Police fired tear gas to disperse protesters angered at their handling of the event, witnesses told the BBC.

Protesters say violence by the security forces led to the stampede, but the PM denied security forces had opened fire.

Correspondents say that while the ruling coalition has some solid achievements to show for its 25 years in power, it has been unable to manage the transition from being a secretive revolutionary movement to running an open, democratic government.</s>ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia -- The Ethiopian government has declared a state of emergency effective immediately after a week of anti-government violence that resulted in deaths and property damage across the country, especially in the restive Oromia region.

In a televised address on Sunday morning, Ethiopia's prime minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, said the state of emergency was declared because there has been "enormous" damage to property.

"We put our citizens' safety first. Besides, we want to put an end to the damage that is being carried out against infrastructure projects, education institutions, health centers, administration and justice buildings," said Desalegn on the state Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation.

"The recent developments in Ethiopia have put the integrity of the nation at risk," he said, adding, "The state of emergency will not breach basic human rights enshrined under the Ethiopian constitution and won't also affect diplomatic rights listed under the Vienna Convention."

The Internet is blocked across many parts of Ethiopia, residents reported Sunday. The government has blocked the Internet for more than a week to prevent protesters from using social media to get supporters to attend demonstrations.

Major towns and cities across Ethiopia's Oromia region are experiencing unrest and widespread violent protests of people demanding wider freedoms. More than 50 people were killed Oct. 2 in a stampede triggered when police fired tear gas and bullets to disperse protesters at the annual Irrecha thanksgiving celebration in the town of Bishoftu.

An American woman was killed last week when she was hit by a rock thrown by protesters. Some businesses have been targeted because of suspected links to the government, which is promoting Ethiopia as one of Africa's top-performing economies.

The state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate said the attacks on factories in Sebeta, on the outskirts of the capital, Addis Ababa, affected more than 40,000 workers. Textile, plastic, cement and bottled-water factories have been targeted.

Anti-government protests continued Sunday. Many roads into and out of Addis Ababa are blocked by protesters, and those who try to drive through are targeted by people who jump out from behind bushes and hurl rocks, witnesses told the Associated Press by phone on Sunday.

The state broadcaster said details of the state of emergency will be communicated to the public later Sunday.

"There are sufficient grounds to declare a state of emergency in Ethiopia," said Abiy Chelkeba, assistant professor of law at Mekelle University. "The situation in many areas across the Oromia region has become so severe that law enforcement agencies themselves have become targets and were attacked with a high intensity. Moreover, the constitutional order of the country has been endangered. All in all, the value systems of the constitution, like a respect for the national flag and adherence to the governance system, are in danger."

In a separate development, Ethiopian officials summoned Egypt's ambassador to the country, Aboubakr Hefny, for discussions. The State Minister for Ethiopia's Foreign Affairs Ministry talked to the Egyptian diplomat after a video appeared online which purportedly shows members of the outlawed Oromo Liberation Front sharing a stage with what Ethiopia's state broadcaster described as Egyptians.</s>The Ethiopian government has declared a state of emergency effective immediately following a week of anti-government violence that resulted in deaths and property damage across the country, especially in the restive Oromia region.

"The Council of Ministers has declared a state of emergency that will be effective as of Saturday evening so as to deal with anti-peace elements that have allied with foreign forces and are jeopardizing the peace and security of the country," the state Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation announced Sunday morning.

It added that that the Council of Ministers discussed the damage by the protests across the country and declared the state of emergency in a message delivered to Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn.

Major towns and cities across the Oromia region are experiencing unrest and widespread violent protests after dozens were killed on October 2 in a stampede triggered when police fired teargas and bullets to disperse protestors at the annual Irrecha thanksgiving celebration in Bishoftu town.

The state broadcaster said details of the state of emergency will be communicated to the public later Sunday.</s>Ethiopia has declared a state of emergency following months of often violent anti-government protests, especially in the restive Oromia region.

“A state of emergency has been declared because the situation posed a threat against the people of the country,” Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said on state-run television yesterday.

Local media said the state of emergency, declared for the first time in 25 years, will last for six months.

Earlier yesterday, the state Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation reported that the state of emergency was effective as of Saturday evening as a means to “deal with anti-peace elements that have allied with foreign forces and are jeopardising the peace and security of the country”.

It added that that the Council of Ministers discussed the damage by the protests across the country and declared the state of emergency in a message delivered to Hailemariam.

Protests reignited this week in the Oromia region — the main focus of a recent wave of demonstrations — after dozens of people were killed in a stampede on October 2, which was sparked by police firing tear gas and warning shots at a huge crowd of protesters attending a religious festival.

The official death toll given by the government was 55, though opposition activists and rights groups said they believe more than 100 people died as they fled security forces, falling into ditches that dotted the area.

According to government officials, factories, company premises and vehicles were burnt out completely or damaged during the rioting. Many roads leading to the capital, Addis Ababa, were reported to be blocked.

The anti-government demonstrations started in November among the Oromo, Ethiopia’s biggest ethnic group, and later spread to the Amhara, the second most populous group.

Though they initially began over land rights, they later broadened into calls for more political, economic and cultural rights.

Both groups say that a multi-ethnic ruling coalition and the security forces are dominated by the Tigray ethnic group, which makes up only about 6 percent of the population.

The government, though, blames rebel groups and foreign-based dissidents for stoking the violence. — Al Jazeera.</s>It is the first time since the ruling party came to power 25 years ago that a state of emergency has been put in place in Ethiopia.

The country's prime minister said via state media that the steps were taken to restore order following escalating protests around the country.

Among those protesting are Ethiopia's largest ethnic group, the Oromos, who make up at least a third of the country's 100 million people.

But they have been marginalized for decades, with tensions rising recently as the government promoted development that took over Oromo farmland.

Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said: "The state of emergency was declared following a thorough discussion by the Council of Ministers on the loss of lives and property damages occurring in the country. "We want to put an end to the damage that is being carried out against infrastructure projects, health centers, administration and justice buildings," he said, according to local media reports. What is behind Ethiopia's Oromo protests? The state of emergency took effect Saturday. , officials in the country have shut down mobile Internet service and blocked social media in most parts of Oromia, the largest of Ethiopia's nine regional states. , officials in the country have shut down mobile Internet service and blocked social media in most parts of Oromia, the largest of Ethiopia's nine regional states. According to local media , officials in the country have shut down mobile Internet service and blocked social media in most parts of Oromia, the largest of Ethiopia's nine regional states. Protests have raged in the country since at least 52 people died on October 2 during the Oromo holy festival known as Irreechaa. Activists in Ethiopia disputed the government's accounts and the official death toll of 52. They say security forces fired bullets and tear gas on the crowd and that more than 500 people died. However, the government blamed "troublemakers" for the clashes, and disputed claims security forces fired on protesters. Communications minister Getachew Reda told CNN: "Of the people's bodies who were collected, they do not have any bullet wounds whatsoever. "They were killed in the stampede. The security forces were mostly unarmed..There was no force involved on the part of the security forces." During the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, Ethiopian marathon runner Feyisa Lilesa protested against what he said was unfair persecution of the Oromo people by the Ethiopian government.</s>The Ethiopian government has declared a state of emergency effective immediately following a week of anti-government violence that resulted in deaths and property damage across the country, especially in the restive Oromia region.

In a televised address on Sunday morning, Ethiopia's Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said the state of emergency was declared because there has been "enormous" damage to property.

"We put our citizens' safety first. Besides, we want to put an end to the damage that is being carried out against infrastructure projects, education institutions, health centers, administration and justice buildings," said Desalegn on the state Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation.

"The recent developments in Ethiopia have put the integrity of the nation at risk," he said.

"The state of emergency will not breach basic human rights enshrined under the Ethiopian constitution and won't also affect diplomatic rights listed under the Vienna Convention," said Desalegn.

The internet is blocked across many parts of Ethiopia, residents reported Sunday. The government has blocked the internet for more than a week to prevent protesters from using social media to get supporters to attend demonstrations.

Major towns and cities across Ethiopia's Oromia region are experiencing unrest and widespread violent protests after dozens were killed on October 2 in a stampede triggered when police fired teargas and bullets to disperse protestors at the annual Irrecha thanksgiving celebration in Bishoftu town.

Anti-government protests continued Sunday. Many roads into and out of the capital, Addis Ababa, are blocked by protesters and those who try to drive through are targeted by people who jump out from behind bushes and hurl rocks, witnesses told the Associated Press by phone on Sunday.

The state broadcaster said details of the state of emergency will be communicated to the public later Sunday.

In a separate development, Ethiopian officials summoned Egypt's ambassador to the country, Aboubakr Hefny, for discussions. The State Minister for Ethiopia's Foreign Affairs Ministry talked to the Egyptian diplomat after a video appeared online which purportedly shows members of the outlawed Oromo Liberation Front sharing a stage with what Ethiopia's state broadcaster described as Egyptians.</s>Ethiopia declared a state of emergency on Sunday following months of violent anti-government protests, according to an official statement.

"The state of emergency was declared following a thorough discussion by the Council of Ministers on the loss of lives and property damages occurring in the country," Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said.

Ethiopia, for past five years, has been hit by protests. In the most recent unrest in Oromia, at least 55 people died when security forces intervened during the annual Ireecha fete — a seasonal festival.

Oromo protests have continued long after plans to expand capital Addis Ababa’s boundaries were abandoned early in the year.

In particular, Amhara and Oromo opposition has coalesced, both adopting the latest symbol — arms raised and wrists crossed as if handcuffed.

The picture of Olympic silver medallist Feyisa Lilesa making this gesture while crossing the finish line at Rio 2016 went viral, and photos from Ireecha celebrations in Bishoftu show the crowd standing with arms crossed above their heads before police intervention triggered the deadly panic.

The ruling Ethiopia People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front has achievements to show for its 25 years in power in terms of economic development and improved health and education.

What it has not done is manage the transition from being a centralised, secretive revolutionary movement to running a more open government.

In theory, Ethiopia has embraced democracy but hurdles are put in the way of potential rival parties that currently, there are no opposition MPs.

EPRDF has in theory devolved a good deal of power, but regional leaders are changed by the government time and again.</s>A torched bus in the Sebeta region of Ethiopia. PHOTO | BBC

Ethiopia declared a six-month state of emergency Sunday following months of violent anti-government protests, according to an official statement released on state media.

“The state of emergency was declared following a thorough discussion by the Council of Ministers on the loss of lives and property damages occurring in the country,” Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said.

The declaration marks a further hardening of the government’s position after months of protests in different parts of Ethiopia.

These have been met with a strong security response that has left hundreds dead, according to human rights groups.

“We put our citizens’ safety first. Besides, we want to put an end to the damage that is being carried out against infrastructure projects, health centres, administration and justice buildings,” Hailemariam said on state media, adding the state of emergency was effective from October 8.

Ethiopia is facing its biggest anti-government unrest in a decade, from the majority Oromo and Amhara ethnic groups which feel marginalised by a minority-led government.

In the wake of the state of emergency declaration, residents of the capital Addis Ababa and regional towns reported more police on the streets but little other change.

The protests threaten Ethiopia’s reputation as an economic success story renowned for its stability, even as the government’s authoritarian rule attracts criticism. Last week protests also targeted foreign investors — regarded as supporting and being backed by the central government — with close to a dozen foreign-owned companies, including textile and plastic factories, set on fire.

Tensions have been rising since an Oromo religious festival last week ended in tragedy when police fired tear gas on anti-government protesters, sparking panic in the massive crowd and triggering a stampede that left more than 50 dead.

The declaration of a six-month state of emergency is unprecedented in the 25 years the current Ethiopian government has been in charge.

An opposition leader said the declaration was a ploy to allow the government to “consolidate their authority and squash any public, spontaneous protests”.

“They are not giving any space for dialogue. They want total control on everything,” said Beyene Petros, chairman of the Medrek opposition coalition.

“People will not sit and accept this. It will provoke more anger,” he predicted, warning it “might well be the last straw”.</s>Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn declared a six-month state of emergency on Sunday, saying it was to restore order after weeks of protests that have resulted in deaths and damage to mostly foreign-owned factories and flower farms.

Last week, protesters also destroyed scores of vehicles, adding economic casualties to a rising death toll in a wave of unrest over land grabs and rights, Reuters reported.

“A state of emergency has been declared because the situation posed a threat against the people of the country,” Hailemariam said on state-run television.

“The state of emergency is vital. It is essential to restore peace and stability over a short period of time,” he said, adding the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) coalition was also looking at reforms, and planning to hold talks with opposition parties.

Hailemariam said the state of emergency was effective from Oct.8.

The violence has put a shadow over a nation where a state-led industrial drive has created one of Africa’s fastest growing economies, but where the government has also faced rising international criticism and popular opposition to its authoritarian approach to development.

Last Sunday, at least 55 people were killed in a stampede in Ethiopia’s Oromiya region that was triggered when police used teargas and shot in the air to disperse anti-government protesters at a religious festival.

That has added the toll to more than 450 the number of people rights groups and opponents say have been killed in unrest since 2015. A U.S. researcher was killed on Tuesday when her car was attacked by stone-throwers near Addis Ababa.

The government says the toll cited by critics is inflated.</s>Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn has been in power since 2012. By Jewel Samad (AFP/File)

Addis Ababa (AFP) - Ethiopia declared a state of emergency on Sunday following months of violent anti-government protests, according to an official statement.

"The state of emergency was declared following a thorough discussion by the Council of Ministers on the loss of lives and property damages occurring in the country," Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said.
Ethiopia's government declares a six-month state of emergency amid continuing protests, especially in the restive Oromia Region.