A festival turned tragic on Sunday following a confrontation between Ethiopian police and the ethnic Oromo people.
Tension ensued when the Oromo people who were attending Irrecha festival to thank Waaqa (God) for the blessings and mercies, also demanded for equal rights in the country with over 96 million people.
The crowd chanted ‘we need freedom’ while displaying crossed wrists, a popular gesture of dissent against Ethiopian government’s alleged oppression.
The festival that was hosted in Bishoftu in the Oromia region was punctuated by anti-oppression catchphrases leading to police deadly intervention.
The Ethiopian security forces fired rubber bullets and tear gas, creating a stampede that led to the death of over 250 Oromo people while over 300 people sustained serious injuries including gunshot wounds. A number of people ended up falling in deep pits.
Human Rights Watch estimates that more than 400 people have been killed by the government forces since 2014 when Oromos first protested against Ethiopian government’s planned expansion of the capital, a move which was seen to threaten Oromo’s farm lands.
Even though the government deferred the plan, Oromos and other dissenting communities have remained marginalised.
In the wake of this turmoil, African Union leaders as well as world leaders have remained silent over the endless bloodbath that is now threatening peace in Eastern Africa.