The two cities, located in the north-west in the Amhara region, are famous for anti-government protests that led to deaths of hundreds of people last year. Reports indicate that the government has deployed a heavy security presence in both areas. The curfew was imposed to primarily quell months of unrest in the Amhara and Oromia regions. Timket is largely marked with a reenactment of the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, where people jump into the waters of the Fasillides Bath located in the Gondar region. Elsewhere across the country priests spray baptism water on the faithful.

Source: Ethiopian News January 18, 2017 15:54 UTC