Ethiopia: U.S. calls for probe into ethnic violence

ESAT News (September 19, 2017)

The United States called for a transparent investigation into the death several people in ethnic clashes in Eastern Ethiopia.

“We urge the Ethiopian government to conduct a transparent investigation into all allegations of violence and to hold those responsible accountable,” the Embassy of the United States in Addis Ababa said in a statement on Tuesday.

“We are disturbed by the troubling reports of ethnic violence and the large-scale displacement of people living along the border between the Oromia and Somali regions, particularly in Hararge, although the details of what is occurring remain unclear,” it said.

The recent events, the embassy said “underscore the need to make more rapid and concrete progress on reform in inclusive political dialogue for all Ethiopians, greater government transparency, and strengthening the institutions of democracy and justice.”

A new wave of Ethnic clashes in Eastern Ethiopia, bordering the Somali and Oromo communities, has left scores dead and displaced over 70,000 people.