Ethiopian Army Chief, Regional President Killed In Unrest: PM’s Office



The spokeswoman Billene Seyoum told journalists a “hit squad” led by Amhara’s security chief Asaminew Tsige burst into a meeting on Saturday afternoon, injuring regional president Ambachew Mekonnen and another top official who both died of their wounds.

Later that evening in what appeared a “co-ordinated attack”, army chief Seare Mekonnen, and a retired general who was visiting him, were killed by his bodyguard, said Billene.


The US state department has warned its staff in Addis Ababa to stay ins

Information is scanty, with reports that the internet has been down, but Prime Minister Abiy, dressed in military fatigues, went on TV to make his announcement.

He said the chief of staff had been shot by “mercenaries”.

The Amhara regional officials were killed by their own colleagues during a meeting, he added.

A statement from the prime minister’s office added: “The coup attempt in Amhara regional state is against the constitution and is intended to scupper the hard-won peace of the region.


Residents in Amhara’s regional capital, Bahir Dar, have reported hearing heavy gunfire.

The ruling party in Amhara has accused a former security chief, who was released from jail after Mr Abiy came to power, of being behind the violence.






In October, he said that hundreds of soldiers who had marched to his office to demand a pay rise, had wanted to kill him.

ide, saying it is aware of reports of gunfire in the city on Saturday.


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