Ethiopia’s cabinet has declared a nationwide state of emergency for 6 months immediately and authorities in Addis Ababa told citizens to prepare to defend the capital, as fighters from the northern region of Tigray threatened to march towards the city.
“The state of emergency is aimed to protect civilians from atrocities being committed by the terrorist TPLF group in several parts of the country. Justice Minister Gideon Timothewos said anyone violating the emergency would face three to 10 years in prison, for offenses such as providing financial, material, or moral support to “terrorist groups”.
The move came after the Tigrayan fighters said they had captured the strategic towns of Dessie and Kombolcha in the neighboring Amhara region in recent days, and also indicated they might advance further south, on Addis Ababa.
The six-month state of emergency allows, among other things, for roadblocks to be established, transport services to be disrupted, curfews to be imposed, and for the military to take over in certain areas.
