More than 1,000 supporters gathered around the Addis Ababa home of Jawar Mohammed, media entrepreneur and political activist, after he reported his government-provided security detail was asked by police to leave his home in the middle of the night.
Mohammed posted reports on the developments on the Facebook page of the Oromia Media Network, which he co-founded.
“Why were they trying to remove my security at night?” he asked. “In the past, whenever they made changes to security, the commanders either personally called me or the head of my detail to inform us. What changed?”
Mohammed said he thought the removal of security forces from his house was meant to take advantage of political demonstrations over the past few days in Addis Ababa and elsewhere in Oromia.
“The plan was to remove my security and unleash civilian attackers and claim it was a mob attack,” he said in the Facebook post.
On Wednesday, Mohammed confirmed the story to VOA. He said members of his security detail were still at his home, having refused to leave in the middle of the night.
But Police Commissioner General Endeshaw Tassew told VOA that Mohammed’s assumption that he had been targeted for violence was false and that Mohammed’s case was just one of several in which security details had been removed.
“Police have been assessing the need for private guards for individuals and making similar decisions. We will continue to do so,” Tassew added.
He called for protesters who had blocked roads in the area to stand down and let normal life resume.
Shimelis Abdisa, vice president of the Oromia region, called for an investigation into the incident, saying it was a “major mistake.”
Late Wednesday, the prime minister’s office had not commented.
Originally working from the U.S. state of Minnesota, Ethiopia-born and U.S.-educated Mohammed was seen as instrumental in bringing current Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to power in 2018. Mohammed returned to Ethiopia that year.
Since then, he has been known as a controversial figure, straddling the roles of journalist and activist. He was assigned a private security detail when he returned to Ethiopia, like many other political figures in the days following Abiy’s election.
While supporters gathered around Mohammed’s house late Tuesday and early Wednesday, thousands of political protesters gathered in parts of Addis Ababa and other towns in Oromia state, including Adama, Shashamane, Jimma, Ambo and Harar.
In Chalanko, resident Mohammed Abdella said protesters rushed into the street around 5 a.m. to show solidarity with Jawar Mohammed.
“The protest was all peaceful,” he said. “Jawar is our hero, our leader.”
Jaffar Mohammed, mayor of the eastern Ethiopian city Dire Dawa, said officials are investigating reports of violence.
“Looters also joined the protesters and the situation changed its course,” he told VOA. “One person lost his life and we are checking the cause of death.”
Jaffar Mohammed said he has reports that four people were wounded and that officials are investigating.
In Awaday city, Mohamed Bakar Ibro said his 19-year-old brother, Araraso Bakar Ibro, was killed during protests. Jaffar Mohammed confirmed the death. He said officials are still investigating reports of injuries.
Stop The Nonsense!!! Just Cut The Crap Wholla!!!!
This so called tension between these two groups, Jawar and his supporters and Abiy and his supporters, is not going anywhere. Two kings vying to rule on the same state is not possible and never happens. The only way out of this is for both sides to come to their senses. They should blunt their sharp tongues lashing at each other. Obbo Jawar must accept the fact that in his capacity every word that comes out of his mouth for the right or wrong reasons it sticks. The government on the other side should should somehow convince itself that Obbo Jawar as of now has sizable following especially among the youth aggravated daily by crashing unemployment and the resulting hopelessness. As shown already they will run ujuum at his moment’s notice. Obbo Jawar should always keep in mind that whether he likes it or not the current regime is in charge of ruling the land. If it needs to be replaced that must be done carefully and peacefully. All talks in emotional outbursts must be avoided. In the dazzle-razzle and tense environment over there now emotional outburst will not further the accord for the people and the country. That only leads to more emotional outbursts followed by violence and all the destruction that comes with it. No one else will be held accountable for that. It will be both groups. Both sides should come to their senses rather than bragging about the size of their muscle. Past rulers of that country thought they could ride out all opposition and continue ruling the country for a thousand years. But as we all know by now that was not the case. On the other hand, many prominent opposition groups had run folly of their strength overestimation and ended up throwing their blind followers into a waiting and raging fire. Their sacrifice did not bring about any change. Millions were lost to no avail.
But what this young PM has done immediately after coming to power is commendable. Thousands of political prisoners have been released and all opposition groups have been allowed to return. That was not just a chum change. He has eliminated the state of war in place for almost two decades with Eritrea. That does not mean that he should be seen as someone with supernatural power or a prophet. Such measures were already out there waiting for so long to be taken. He did a commendable job with it. And that should be it!!!
So peace y’all!!!!