Ethiopia's week of unrest sees 239 dead, 3,500 arrested

At least 239 people have been killed and 3,500 arrested in more than a week of unrest in Ethiopia that poses biggest challenge yet to its bel Peace Prize-winning prime minister. In Oromia region, toll includes 215 civilians along with nine police officers and five militia members, regional police commissioner Mustafa Kedir told ruling party-affiliated Walta TV on Wednesday.

Officials earlier said 10 people were killed in capital, dis Ababa, eight of m civilians, amid outr after a popular singer was shot de last Monday.

Hachalu Hundessa h been a rallying voice in anti-government protests that led to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed taking power in 2018. Abiy swiftly introduced political reforms that also opened way for long-held ethnic and or grievances in Africa's second most populous country.

military was deployed during outr that followed Hachalu's death.

In remarks last week while wearing a military uniform, Abiy said dissidents he recently extended an offer of peace h “taken up arms” in revolt against government. He hinted re could be links between this unrest and killing of army chief last year as well as grene thrown at one of his own rallies in 2018.

3,500 arrests have included that of a well-kwn Oromo activist, Jawar Mohammed, and more than 30 supporters. It is t clear what charges y might face. Oromo make up Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group but h never held country’s top post until y helped bring Abiy to power.

Local reports have said that in some places ethnic Oromo have attacked ethnic Amhara, and in Shashamane town some people were going home to home checking identity cards and targeting Amhara residents.

Businesses have w begun opening slowly in Oromia after violence in which several hundred homes in Ethiopia were burned or damd.

But Ethiopia’s internet service remains cut, making it difficult for rights monitor and ors to track scores of killings.