FBI to help probe into Ethiopia rally blast

The US is sending the FBI to help investigate a grenade attack in Addis Ababa which killed two people at a rally addressed by Ethiopia’s reformist prime minister, state media said Monday. “I’m so sorry to learn that we have lost another Ethiopian victim of yesterday’s attack,” health minister Amir Aman tweeted. “My sincere sympathy and condolences to the family, friends and all Ethiopians.”

The blast occurred in a packed public square as Ethiopia’s new prime minister Abiy Ahmed was wrapping up a speech before tens of thousands of people. The ensuing chaos injured more than 150 people and marred an event meant to build public support for Abiy’s ambitious reform agenda. * Sign up to News24's top Africa news in your inbox: SUBSCRIBE TO THE HELLO AFRICA NEWSLETTER

State-run Ethiopian News Agency reported police had arrested six people suspected of involvement in the blast, but gave few details. Security officials have not said publicly who might be responsible for the attack. The Oromos along with the second-largest the Amharas staged months of anti-government protests starting in late 2015 that prompted the government to declare a 10-month state of emergency in October 2016. He has released jailed journalists and opponents, agreed to cede contested territory to Eritrea, admitted that security forces tortured dissidents and begun to open up the state-controlled economy. [nL8N1TR1GA]

Ethiopia has one of Africa’s fastest growing economies but opponents of the ruling EPRDF coalition that has ruled since 1991 say its benefits have not been shared fairly between the country’s ethnic groups and regions. The 42-year-old former government minister and army officer is the first prime minister in modern Ethiopia from the country’s largest ethnicity the Oromo, which spearheaded the anti-government protests.
The Ethiopia Federal Police Commission announces the arrests of 30 people suspected of involvement in a bombing of a rally for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The attack killed two and injured 156. The United States announces the deployment of FBI specialists to assist the probe.