Ethiopia has restricted social media and messaging platforms ahead of rival planned rallies following a split in the popular Orthodox Church. The row has caused deadly violence and began last month when some clerics accused the main church of ethnic discrimination, which it denies. Some supporters of the main church angrily accuse the authorities of backing the breakaway group. They say for too long the Orthodox Church has been dominated culturally by other ethnic groups. The state-linked Ethiopian Human Rights Commission has also stepped into the fray, releasing a statement on Friday accusing the security forces of using excessive force against followers of the main church.

Source: Ethiopian News February 12, 2023 09:54 UTC