ETHIOPIAN authorities have arrested 47 individuals suspected of attempting to overthrow the government, according to local media reports. The Joint Security and Intelligence Task Force labelled the suspects as ‘terrorists’ who allegedly worked with external forces to take control of the regional government in order to overthrow the federal government by assassinating senior Amhara officials.
The arrests came weeks after the assassination of ruling Prosperity Party leader Girma Yeshitila. The suspects were found in possession of weapons, bombs, and satellite communications equipment. The group targeted senior government officials with its activities, according to the joint task force. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed blamed the killing of Yeshitila on ‘violent extremists’ and the joint task force said the extremist forces wanted to topple the state and federal government by instigating violence and chaos across the country. The group was also accused of spreading terrorist propaganda to sow ethnic and religio
us conflict in the country.
‘The suspects worked together locally and in foreign countries with the aim of taking control of the regional government in order to overthrow the federal government by assassinating senior Amhara officials,’ the report said.
‘We want to assure our citizens that we will do everything to protect them and bring to justice all those who threaten the unity, sovereignty, and stabi
lity of our country,’ said the Joint Security and Intelligence Task Force in a statement.
In a separate development, more than 6,000 people have entered Ethiopia fleeing fighting in neighbouring Sudan, according to the West Gondar zone communication office in the Amhara region.
