The Ethiopian government on Sunday declared a six-month nationwide state of emergency following months of anti-government protests.
It
is the first time since the ruling party came to power 25 years ago
that a state of emergency has been put in place in Ethiopia.
The
country's prime minister said via state media that the steps were taken
to restore order following escalating protests around the country.
Among
those protesting are Ethiopia's largest ethnic group, the Oromos, who
make up at least a third of the country's 100 million people.
But they have been marginalized for
decades, with tensions rising recently as the government promoted
development that took over Oromo farmland.
Prime
Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said: "The state of emergency was
declared following a thorough discussion by the Council of Ministers on
the loss of lives and property damages occurring in the country.
"We
want to put an end to the damage that is being carried out against
infrastructure projects, health centers, administration and justice
buildings," he said, according to local media reports.
The state of emergency took effect Saturday.
According to local media,
officials in the country have shut down mobile Internet service and
blocked social media in most parts of Oromia, the largest of Ethiopia's
nine regional states.
Protests have
raged in the country since at least 52 people died on October 2 during
the Oromo holy festival known as Irreechaa.
Activists
in Ethiopia disputed the government's accounts and the official death
toll of 52. They say security forces fired bullets and tear gas on the
crowd and that more than 500 people died.
However, the government blamed "troublemakers" for the clashes, and disputed claims security forces fired on protesters.
Communications
minister Getachew Reda told CNN: "Of the people's bodies who were
collected, they do not have any bullet wounds whatsoever.
"They
were killed in the stampede. The security forces were mostly
unarmed..There was no force involved on the part of the security
forces."
