Johnathan Walker:Ethiopia arrests former peace minister over alleged links to an outlawed rebel group

2025-05-02 00:02:16source:AQCAN Exchangecategory:reviews

ADDIS ABABA,Johnathan Walker Ethiopia (AP) — Ethiopia’s peace minister has been fired and arrested for having alleged links to an outlawed rebel group after he made a series of social media posts criticizing the government.

Federal police released a statement Tuesday accusing Taye Dendea of “collaborating with anti-peace forces that are trying to destroy Ethiopia” and of belonging to the Oromo Liberation Army, which is banned as a terrorist organization.

The statement was published alongside several photos showing firearms, identity documents, mobile phones and OLA flags that police said were seized from Taye’s home.

The OLA is waging a long-running insurgency against the government. It claims to be fighting for greater representation for the Oromo, Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group, but has been accused of ethnic-based attacks on other groups.

Other news El Niño-worsened flooding has Somalia in a state of emergency. Residents of one town are desperateDeath toll from floods in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia rises to 130US resumes some food aid deliveries to Ethiopia after assistance was halted over ‘widespread’ theft

Human rights groups, meanwhile, have accused the government of targeting civilians in its military campaign against the OLA.

Taye, an ethnic Oromo, is a senior member of the ruling party, but has grown increasingly critical of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

Last week Taye blamed the government for the failure of recent peace talks with the OLA and condemned a decision to ban an opposition rally in Addis Ababa, the capital.

On Monday, Taye posted his dismissal letter from Abiy on Facebook and described the prime minister as a “barbarian” who “plays with human blood.”

There was no immediate response from the prime minister’s office regarding Taye’s characterization of Abiy.

The OLA conflict has rendered vast parts of Oromia ungovernable. More than 50 civilians have been killed in the region since the breakup of last month’s peace talks, according to a state-appointed human rights commission.

More:reviews

Recommend

Finally, good retirement news! Southwest pilots' plan is a bright spot, experts say

Pilots at Southwest Airlines can sock away more for retirement, thanks to a new retirement plan bene

Fatigue and frustration as final do-over mayoral election looms in Connecticut’s largest city

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) — It’s been nearly four months since a judge tossed out the results of a Demo

SAG Awards 2024 Red Carpet Fashion: See Every Look As the Stars Arrive

These red carpet looks are worthy of an award.The 2024 Screen Actors Guild Awards kicked off on Feb.