The Kenyan Embassy in Ethiopia has cautioned its citizens against traversing hotspots in the country after the country's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed declared a six-month state of emergency on Friday, August 4.
Ethiopia scaled security measures in Amhara, the country's second-largest region, following attacks orchestrated by armed extremist groups.
In a notice issued on Monday, August 7, the embassy appealed to Kenyans residing in the region to adhere to the guidelines issued by the Ethiopian government in relation to the crisis.
Further, they were urged to contact the embassy through the consular office, email or phone calls amid Ethiopia contemplating extending the state of emergency to cover other regions.
Why Did Ethiopia Declare a State of Emergency?
On Friday, August 4, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed declared a state of emergency after Amhara security forces (Fano), a local ethnic militia and the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) clashed over PM Abiy's executive order.
Abiy ordered security forces from Ethiopia’s 11 regions to be disbanded and integrated into the police or national army.
Fano, previously an ENDF ally, took control of some of the towns in the region, hence paralysing the normal day-to-day activities of the region. Among the services affected was air travel, as flights were cancelled from two airports located in the region, Gondar and Lalibela, to prevent casualties.
In its response, Ethiopia's regime through, Temesgen Tiruneh, director-general of Ethiopia’s national intelligence service, accused militiamen in the Amhara region of seeking to overthrow the regional and federal governments.
“This robbery force is operating with the goal and intention of overthrowing the regional government by force and then advancing to the federal system,” Temesgen said in comments broadcast late on Sunday by state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting.
Apart from Kenya, foreign countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States, advised their citizens against travelling to Amhara, with more countries expected to take proactive measures to ensure the safety of the citizens.
What Happens During the State of Emergency?
A state of emergency is a national crisis or disaster in which a government suspends normal constitutional procedures to protect its citizens and steer the country through a crisis.
In Ethiopia's instance, the government gave security forces the power to ban the carrying of guns and other weapons, bar public gatherings from taking place, impose curfews, and make arbitrary arrests.
Additionally, the government can inhibit or limit the media's freedom if it contravenes emergency orders.
