Ethiopia: Ireecha festival in Oromia October 1-8 /update 2

Event

Irreecha festival celebrations will be held at Lake Arsede, Bishoftu (Debre Zeit) and across the Oromia region from Sunday, October 1, until Sunday, October 8. The Oromia Office for Culture and Tourism has announced that weapons have been banned at the festival and that armed police will be confined to the outskirts of the gathering. Celebrations in 2016 were marred by clashes between security forces and anti-government protesters. Protests, which could turn violent, are a possibility this year, following a resurgence of fighting between the Oromo and Somali communities in recent weeks.

The US Department of State has advised US citizens to postpone travel to Bishoftu and the surrounding areas until after the festivities have concluded.

Context

The Irreecha festival is celebrated annually by the Oromo ethnic group to mark the end of the rainy season. In 2016, at least 55 people were killed and many more injured in a stampede during Irreecha celebrations in Bishoftu. It was reported that the stampede occurred after police used tear gas, rubber bullets, and baton charges to disperse anti-government protesters.

Tensions between the Somali and Oromo communities - who have a historical dispute over territorial boundaries - has increased after fighting broke out in early August near the towns of Harar and Babile. Additional clashes have been reported in Jijiga, Aweday, Kobo, and Chinaksen. Increased security forces have recently been deployed to the Oromia and Somali regions in an effort to stop the clashes.

Advice

Individuals in Ethiopia are advised to remain vigilant at all times and to avoid any form of public demonstration or public gathering due to the risk of criminality or violence. Adhere to all instructions issued by authorities and respect all laws (curfews, etc.).

On a more general note, due to the terrorist threat linked to the Somalia-based group Al-Shabaab, the majority of Western governments advise their citizens against all travel to the Ogaden region and other areas along the border with Somalia, as well as nonessential travel to the rest of the Ethiopian Somali region. The Eritrean, Sudanese, South Sudanese, and Kenyan borders are also considered high-risk destinations.