Egypt denies involvement in Ethiopia unrest

By Hussein Mahmoud

CAIRO

Egypt "respects the sovereignty of Ethiopia", the Foreign Ministry stressed Monday, following accusations by Ethiopian officials that Cairo had been involved in recent unrest in Ethiopia’s Oromia region.

"Egypt entirely respects Ethiopia’s sovereignty and does not intervene in its domestic affairs," the ministry said, adding that high-level communications were currently underway between the two countries.

On Sunday, Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn announced a state of emergency after violent protests erupted across the Oromia region, the largest of the country’s nine ethnically-based regional states.

After Hailemariam suggested the violence had been instigated by foreign provocateurs, Getachew Reda, Ethiopia’s communications minister, pointed the finger at Egypt.

Since November of last year, Ethiopia’s Oromo people -- the country’s largest ethnic group -- have been staging protests against perceived political and economic marginalization.

Since the unrest began earlier this month, more than 400 people in the region have been killed by security forces, according to Human Rights Watch.

At least 56 people died on Oct. 2 alone in a stampede that occurred after police used bullets and teargas to disperse crowds in Oromia’s town of Bishoftu.

Violence escalated further following the incident, with demonstrators blocking roads into and out of the capital and targeting businesses, including foreign-owned factories.

By Hussein Mahmoud

CAIRO

After Hailemariam suggested the violence had been instigated by foreign provocateurs, Getachew Reda, Ethiopia’s communications minister, pointed the finger at Egypt.

Since November of last year, Ethiopia’s Oromo people -- the country’s largest ethnic group -- have been staging protests against perceived political and economic marginalization.

Since the unrest began earlier this month, more than 400 people in the region have been killed by security forces, according to Human Rights Watch.

At least 56 people died on Oct. 2 alone in a stampede that occurred after police used bullets and teargas to disperse crowds in Oromia’s town of Bishoftu.

Violence escalated further following the incident, with demonstrators blocking roads into and out of the capital and targeting businesses, including foreign-owned factories.