ESAT News (October 2, 2017) Scores of people were arrested on Sunday following anti-TPLF protests at the annual Irreecha festival in Bishoftu a.k.a. Debrezeit, 25 miles outside the capital Addis Ababa, according to information received by ESAT. The religious festival on Sunday turned into protest rally with thousands of festival goers chanting anti-TPLF slogans and demanding freedom for the Oromo ...

ESAT News (September 29, 2017) The Federal Police Commission said the army and police force would be deployed at the Irreecha festival this coming Sunday despite earlier statements by the Aba Geda and authorities that said there would be no armed security at the site of the festival in Bishoftu. Police Commissioner, General Asefa Abiyou, told TPLF owned Fana Broadcasting ...

ESAT News (September 28, 2017) The Council of Aba Gedas, the cultural and religious leaders of the Oromos, has banned government officials from delivering speeches at this year’s Irreecha festival due to take place Sunday October 1, 2017, according to a report by the BBC Amharic. Hundreds were killed and injured at last year’s Irreecha, a festival to welcome the ...

ESAT News (September 19, 2017) The Human Rights Watch said it found evidence that security forces of the regime “not only triggered the stampede that caused many deaths but subsequently shot and killed some members of the crowd.” In a report released today in connection with the one year anniversary of the death of hundreds of festival goers in Bishoftu, ...