ESAT News (March 20, 2018)
The week long blockade on transportation of fuel and fuel truck operation that was called by the Qeerroo, a network of youth in the country’s Oromo region, has been extended for another week.
The blockade on fuel truck operation that began last Tuesday was called by the Qeerroo and Oromo activists in defiance of the state of emergency declared in February. It was also called to denounce the killing of compatriots by security forces.
Unconfirmed reports say three fuel trucks that were operating trespassing the call for the fuel blockade were set ablaze.
Reports also show that prices of merchandise and food items have shot up as a result of the fuel blockade.
Several gas stations across the country have gone dry. In the capital Addis Ababa, some fuel stations have reportedly been closed for the last few days. In Gondar, Bahir Dar, Debre Tabor and other towns in the Amhara region were hit by fuel shortages and long lines of queues were seen at several stations.
The blockade on fuel trucks operation was part of Qeerroo’s struggle against a regime that declared a state of emergency in mid February, the second in two years.
The blockade of fuel trucks operation also came after a weekend that saw the killing of at least 13 people in the southern commercial town of Moyale and the displacement of thousands of residents who crossed into Kenya to save their lives.
(EW)