Protesters against chronic lack of water in Wolkite city. Residents told Addis Standard that public and business activities were halted for a week in protest against security forces’ crackdown on civilians who were demonstrating peacefully demanding solutions for scarce potable water in the city last week. Six people were killed, and more than 15 were seriously injured when security forces opened fire on protesters carrying empty jerry cans on 15 February. He said the residents have made it clear that the protests would continue unless the government takes responsibility for the deaths and injuries committed by security forces and disclose it to the public. Due to several stay-at-home protests as part of the zone’s push for own statehood, the Gurage zone including its capital Wolkite city, is put under a command post since November last year.

Source: Ethiopian News February 23, 2023 21:35 UTC