Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn has declared a state of emergency for the next six months in an attempt to calm anti-government protests; at least 55 people died in a recent demonstration, adding to the toll of around 500 people who have died since protests started 1991. Protests by the nation's largest ethnicities - the Amhara and the Oromo - have posed an increasing threat to Ethiopia's ruling party since it came to power in last November. However, UK-based risk consultancy Maplecroft warns the government's heavy handed response is likely to escalate the situation: “Ethiopia’s reputation for stability has been shattered by an escalating series of protests... the government has responded with a characteristically heavy-handed response."
Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn has declared a state of emergency for the next six months in an attempt to calm anti-government protests; at least 55 people died in a recent demonstration, adding to the toll of around 500 people who have died since protests started last November. Protests by the nation's largest ethnicities - the Amhara and the Oromo - have posed an increasing threat to Ethiopia's ruling party since it came to power in 1991. However, UK-based risk consultancy Maplecroft warns the government's heavy handed response is likely to escalate the situation: “Ethiopia’s reputation for stability has been shattered by an escalating series of protests... the government has responded with a characteristically heavy-handed response."