The killing of
Hachalu Hundessa, an
Oromo musician and civil rights activist on 29 June 2020, sent shock waves of anger, resentment, and frustration throughout Ethiopia. Following his death, protesters took to the streets in the
Oromia region and the capital Addis Ababa on 30 June 2020 to express their grievance and to demand justice for the death of Hachalu. Oromo activists have drawn parallels with the
George Floyd protests in the United States, although critics argued such claims were flawed and served as an alibi for ethnically motivated violence. On 30 June, groups of youths roamed through neighborhoods in
Addis Ababa, and public buildings and private businesses were destroyed and businesses looted. That same day, three explosions occurred in Addis Ababa, killing both some of the perpetrators and bystanders. Seven civilians and three police officers were killed, "either beaten with rocks, or shot, or [in] a series of bombings." and another 75 were injured. In
Ambo, Hachalu's hometown, three policemen and 78 civilians were killed in the "mayhem" surrounding his funeral, including one of Hachalu's uncles. At least nine of the civilians were killed by security forces. In
Shashamane, violence was particularly widespread, with "up to 150" people killed there alone, according to the regional deputy police commissioner, Girma Gelan. Eye-witness reports claimed that "all but 4 or 5 buildings" in the town center had been torched, and that the
Rastafari community had been targeted due to its association with the Emperor
Haile Selassie. Witnesses who spoke with
Voice of America described how shopping centres, restaurants, residences, and hotels owned by "outsiders" were attacked, including one owned by celebrated runner
Haile Gebrselassie. mostly
Amharas,
Gurages,
Jamaicans (especially
Rastafarians), and other civilians were attacked. Two people were shot to death in
Chiro, while protesters in
Harar toppled a statue of
Ras Makonnen Wolde Mikael. In
Adama, demonstrators set fire to the mayor's office and tried to take over the headquarters of the regional state broadcaster. The Oromo have themselves long faced marginalisation and exclusion at the hands of the central government; in this instance, those targeted have largely comprised members of other ethnic groups that constitute minorities in the Oromia region.
Response At 9 a.m., 30 June 2020, the internet was cut across much of
Ethiopia, a measure found by telecoms watchdog
NetBlocks to be consistent with previous national internet shutdowns imposed by the government during unrest.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed expressed his condolences to Hundessa's family, saying that Hachalu's assassins intended not to kill him alone but "through him to kill Ethiopia", while also urging calm amid growing unrest. On
Oromia Media Network (OMN), a caller said “Oromo should be organized, do not sit home do nothing and anyone against Oromo should take measure”. Members of Amhara ethnic groups accused media outlets of actively instigating the attacks live and instructing the attackers and broadcast a series of inflammatory hate-filled messages, including calls to lock and burn the homes of
Amhara people but with no supporting evidence. The incident happened when Jawar and his guards intercepted the transportation of the remains of Hachalu Hundessa to his home town of
Ambo, which lies 100 km west of
Addis Ababa. Jawar wanted to have the funeral in
Addis Ababa, while Hachalu's parents and wife wanted to have the burial in
Ambo. The government claimed that the intention was to have Hundessa's funeral in
Addis Ababa so that angry Oromo youths that would come to the city would destroy statues and monuments in the city, a move that would have put them on a collision course with the city residents. The plan was to use the ensuing violence in discrediting and overthrowing the government of
Abiy Ahmed. Thirty-five people, including Jawar, were apprehended, along with eight Kalashnikovs, five pistols, and nine radio transmitters from his bodyguards. As of 5 July, police have arrested at least four people in direct connection with Hachalu's death.
Abiy reportedly suggested that
Egypt may be behind the unrest, saying "those external and internal forces who were not successful with the
Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam issue have tried their utmost efforts to create chaos at this time".
Ian Bremmer wrote in a
Time magazine article that Prime Minister Abiy "may just be looking for a scapegoat that can unite Ethiopians against a perceived common enemy." While some have welcomed the government's move as a "firm response" to restore order and provide accountability, others have warned that a crackdown, in light of
delayed elections, would "exacerbate underlying tensions, and put [Ethiopia's] nascent democracy into danger."
Demonstrations outside Ethiopia Oromos held protests in
Minneapolis–Saint Paul,
Chicago,
Paris, and
London, among other locations, demanding justice for
Hachalu Hundessa and the release of political prisoners
Jawar Mohammed, Bekele Gerba, and dozens of
Oromia Media Network journalists. On 30 June 2020,
a statue of
Emperor Haile Selassie in
Cannizaro Park,
Wimbledon,
South West London, was destroyed by Oromo protesters. The offices of the state-run
Oromia Broadcasting Network in
St. Anthony, Minnesota were ransacked by protesters, forcing the station to suspend operations. Another group of demonstrators blocked traffic in
Aurora, Colorado in reaction to the death Hundessa. Some Oromo activists and ethnic nationalists have drawn parallels between the Hachalu Hundessa riots in
Ethiopia with the
George Floyd protests in the United States, although critics argued such claims were flawed and served as an alibi for ethnically motivated violence, especially as a justification for
pogrom massacres in Ethiopia, including the
Shashamane massacre. ==Investigations and court cases==