Hailemariam said the state of emergency was effective from Oct.8. Getachew said the "extraordinary situation" demanded the state of emergency but insisted it did not amount to a "blanket ban on civilian life". The protests of Oromo citizens started in November 2015, when the government planned to expand the boundaries of the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa. The most recent protests started on October 2 after dozens of people died in clashes with government security forces during a holy festival celebrated by the country's Oromo people. Protesters say violence by the security forces led to the stampede, but the PM denied security forces had opened fire.

Source: Ethiopian News October 20, 2016 16:18 UTC