Saturday, July 12, 2025
  • About Us
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Data Usage Policy
  • Contact Us
MetroNews NG
  • Metro
  • Lagos
    • Opinion
    • Interview
    • Weird
  • World
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Nollywood
  • Odawood
  • Lifestyle
    • Careers
    • Education
    • Health
  • MetronewsNG TV
No Result
View All Result
MetroNews NG
No Result
View All Result
adron ad

Ethiopia’s state of emergency to last six months

metronews by metronews
February 17, 2018
in World
0

A state of emergency declared in Ethiopia after the resignation of the country’s prime minister will last for six months, the minister of defence has said, as the government seeks to stem political unrest amid long-standing demands for greater freedoms.

The measure, which was first announced by state media after a cabinet meeting on Friday, includes a ban on protests and the dissemination of publications “that could incite and sow discord”, Siraj Fegessa told reporters on Saturday.

“The government has previously made several efforts to curtail violence, but lives have continued to be lost, many have been displaced and economic infrastructure has been damaged,” Fegessa said, as quoted by Reuters news agency.

The state of emergency order will be sent to Ethiopia’s parliament within 15 days for ratification, the minister also said.

It will give law enforcement officers the power to detain anyone suspected of violating “the constitutional order” and the ability to search houses, cars and individuals, all without a court warrant, state broadcaster FANA reported.

Displaying signs “which could stir up violence” is also prohibited, FANA said.

On Thursday, Hailemariam Desalegn abruptly announced he would step down as prime minister and head of the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) coalition.

He cited ongoing “unrest and a political crisis” in the country as major factors in his resignation, which he described as “vital in the bid to carry out reforms that would lead to sustainable peace and democracy”.

Hailemariam, who has sat at the helm of the Ethiopian government since 2012, said he will stay on as prime minister in a caretaker capacity until the EPRDF and the parliament accept his resignation and appoint his successor.

This is the second state of emergency to be declared in Ethiopia in the last two years.

In August 2017, Ethiopia lifted a 10-month state of emergency imposed after hundreds of people were killed in anti-government protests demanding wider political freedoms.

The country’s Oromo and Amhara people – who make up about 61 percent of the population – have staged mass demonstrations since 2015 demanding greater political inclusion and an end to human rights abuses.

The protests have continued this month, with many people expressing frustration over a perceived slow government release of political prisoners.

In January, Ethiopia promised to free all political detainees in an effort to “foster national reconciliation”. More than 6,000 prisoners have been released so far, news agencies have reported.

On Saturday, the US embassy in Ethiopia said the state of emergency “undermines recent positive steps toward creating a more inclusive political space, including the release of thousands of prisoners”.

“Restrictions on the ability of the Ethiopian people to express themselves peacefully sends a message that they are not being heard,” the embassy said in a statement.

Previous Post

Jonathan Hosts Obasanjo In Bayelsa

Next Post

Femi Gbajabiamila, other APC Reps endorse Ambode for second term

Related Posts

Olowu of Owu Kuta Bags UNESCO-TOFAC Cultural Preservation Award
Event

Olowu of Owu Kuta Bags UNESCO-TOFAC Cultural Preservation Award

July 3, 2025
Akabanga Lagos Becomes Exclusive Distributor of Rwanda’s Iconic Chili Oil in Nigeria
Business

Akabanga Lagos Becomes Exclusive Distributor of Rwanda’s Iconic Chili Oil in Nigeria

June 17, 2025
Special marshals to monitor airport staff professionalism
Business

Aviation Minister Receives Namibia Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Humphrey D. Geiseb, Discusses BASA, Visa On Arrival

March 13, 2025
Next Post

Femi Gbajabiamila, other APC Reps endorse Ambode for second term

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

BROWSE BY CATEGORIES

  • #SmartLagos
  • Accident
  • Aviation
  • Award
  • Banking
  • Basketball
  • Beauty
  • Boxing
  • Brands
  • Breaking
  • Business
  • Careers
  • Community development
  • Crime
  • Culture
  • Default
  • Domestic violence
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Empowerment
  • Entertainment
  • Environment
  • Event
  • Fashion
  • Featured
  • Finance
  • Football
  • Gaming
  • Gist
  • Golf
  • Health
  • Inspirational Patience
  • Interview
  • Investigative
  • Law
  • Lifestyle
  • local
  • MetroMan
  • MetroPerson
  • metroplus
  • MetroProfile
  • Movies
  • MUSIC
  • Music
  • New Music
  • News
  • nolly wood
  • Nollywood
  • Novels
  • Odawood
  • Oil&Gas
  • Opinion
  • Parenting
  • Photos
  • Politics
  • Press Release
  • Relationship
  • Religion
  • Scandal
  • Security
  • Sex
  • Society
  • Sports
  • Tech
  • Technology
  • Travel
  • TV
  • Videos
  • Weird
  • Wheels
  • World

BROWSE BY TOPICS

#COVID19Nigeria #EndSARS Adams Oshiomhole APC ASUU atiku Atiku Abubakar boko haram Buhari Bukola Saraki business CBN court COVID-19 crime davido ECOWAS Edo Election Edo State Election efcc Featured FG Goodluck Jonathan gunmen INEC Kayode Fayemi Lagos Lagos State Muhammadu Buhari NCDC NDLEA news Niger Nigeria NLC Obaseki PDP police politics President Buhari Sanwo Olu senate tinubu wike Yemi Osinbajo


Recent News

  • Benin Pastor Impregnates Church Member in Shocking Rape Case
  • A Nine-Hour Shutdown for a Foregone Conclusion
  • Tinubu’s Legacy Secure, ADC Headed Nowhere – Yari Renaissance Movement Responds to Aregbesola
  • About Us
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Data Usage Policy
  • Contact Us

© Copyright MetroNews NG 2020. All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Metro
  • Lagos
    • Opinion
    • Interview
    • Weird
  • World
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Nollywood
  • Odawood
  • Lifestyle
    • Careers
    • Education
    • Health
  • MetronewsNG TV

© Copyright MetroNews NG 2020. All rights reserved.