Canada updates Ethiopia travel advisory

ESAT News (August 24, 2017)

The Canadian government on Wednesday updated travel advisory to Ethiopia due to security incidents in parts of the country over the last two days.

“On August 10, 2017, there were inter-communal clashes on the road between Harar and Babile in eastern Ethiopia. Similar incidents occurred on the road between Harar and Dire Dawa, and between Holeta and Ambo, on August 23. Tensions are still high and road travel might be disrupted in these areas. Exercise caution and follow the instructions of the local authorities,” said the government’s travel advisory website.

Clashes between the Oromo and Somali pastoralist communities in eastern Ethiopia resulted in the death of scores of people. The Oromos accused that the Liyou (special) police of force of the Somali region have carried out extrajudicial killings and abductions.

Canada’s advisory about the risk of travel along Ethiopia’s border with Eritrea, Kenya, Sudan and South Sudan as well as in Oromo and Amhara regions remained the same as last year and encourages travelers to “exercise high degree of caution.”