Ethiopia: Government declares state of emergency February 16 /update 1

Event

The Ethiopian Council of Ministers announced the implementation of a nationwide state of emergency on Friday, February 16, effective immediately. It is currently unclear for how long the state of emergency will be in place and what associated measures or restrictions are to be put in place. However, certain constitutional guarantees are likely to be suspended amid an increasingly tense security environment prevailing in the country since Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn's resigned on Thursday, February 15.

The military is expected to oversee the state of emergency and will be "reporting to the prime minister," according to local sources. A heightened security presence is expected in Addis Ababa and other Ethiopian cities, and associated demonstrations and transportation disruptions are possible, in the coming weeks.

Context

Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn resigned on February 15, following years of anti-government protests and related violence that have left hundreds of people dead. Desalegn is expected to continue to serve as acting prime minister until parliament names a successor. The move comes amid increasingly rapid reforms undertaken by the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) in recent weeks, including the release of hundreds of political prisoners immediately before Desalegn's resignation which prompted celebrations across Ethiopia. The constituent regional parties of the EPRDF, the Oromo Peoples' Democratic Organization (OPDO) and the Amhara National Democratic Movement (ANDM), have reportedly been locked in a power struggle to replace Desalegn following his resignation.

Advice

Individuals in Ethiopia are advised to monitor developments to the situation, avoid any large gatherings and demonstrations due to the risk of violence, and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities or their home government.

On a more general note, due to the terrorist threat linked to the Somali group Al-Shabaab, many 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.