A nationwide state of emergency, effective immediately, has been declared by Ethiopia’s cabinet. The authorities in Addis Ababa reportedly have told the citizens to prepare to defend the capital, as fighters from the northern region of Tigray threatened to march towards the city.
The state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting reported on Tuesday that the state of emergency is aimed to protect civilians from atrocities being committed by the terrorists referring to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) groups who has been fighting the federal government for a year.
On Tuesday, two days after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed urged citizens to take up arms to defend themselves against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), Ethiopia declared a six-month state of emergency.
Authorities took this decision after the forces from the northern region of Tigray said they were gaining territory and considering marching on the capital Addis Ababa. Authorities in Addis Ababa has told the residents to register their arms and prepare to defend their neighborhoods against the terrorists.
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What is the current situation in Ethiopia?
According to the United States, the security has deteriorated significantly, and they reportedly urged its citizens to consider leaving.
The United States also has warned the Tigray forces against any attempt to capture the capital, Addis Ababa, after the forces seized control of the strategic cities of Dessie and Kombolcha in recent days.
The declaration from the council said that the Tigray forces and their allies pose a grave and imminent danger to the nation’s existence.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed tweeted that everyone would be tested and stated that the declaration was made to provide a solution and shorten the tribulation period.
As the state of emergency has formally declared, the government can now impose a curfew, they can order the citizens into military training, suspend licenses of media outlets, and they could disrupt transport services and travel, and even detain indefinitely anyone suspected of having links with a terrorist group.
The state of emergency is said to take effect immediately, and according to the announcement, it will last for six months.
The emergency declaration by Ethiopia’s Council was the clearest sign of alarm as of now from the government, who under the leadership of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed allowed soldiers from a neighboring country to invade the Tigray region and pursue the Tigray forces alongside Ethiopian troops a year ago this week.
Following that, thousands of people have been killed in the area.
The Tigrayan forces on Monday night announced that they had linked up with fighters from an Oromo (Ethiopia’s biggest ethnic group) force also fighting the central government. Whose majority of political leaders are currently serving time in prison.
During a state media briefing, Ethiopia’s Justice Minister Gideon Timothewos said that anyone who violates the emergency would be facing three to ten years in prison, listing offences such as providing financial, material, or moral support to terrorist groups are attacking the government.
According to a statement, house-to-house searches were being conducted in the regions, and troublemakers were arrested. Residents are allowed to gather in their locality and are asked to safeguard their surroundings.
People who have weapons but can’t take part in preserving their surroundings have been advised to hand over their weapons to the government or their close relatives or friends who can take part in safeguarding.
From various reports, it is said that people moved around the capital as usual before the announcement of an emergency.
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History of the State of Emergency
Earlier in February 2018, Ethiopia had imposed a similar state of emergency for about six months around the transition of power to Abiy, the current Prime Minister.
Thousands of people were detained during this period, curfews were enforced per the authority’s decision, and people’s movements were also restricted.
