The arrests took place in the capital Addis Ababa on Wednesday said Christian Tadele, whose National Movement of Amhara (NAMA) has become increasingly popular among the ethnic group that comprises around a quarter of Ethiopia's population. Since its founding last year, NAMA has emerged as a rival to the Amhara party in the ruling coalition, which has held power in Ethiopia since 1991. The party spokesman told Reuters that he had also received reports of arrests of Amhara people in four towns in Oromiya region. These, and the arrests of the party members, "were perpetrated against the Amharas because of their identity," he said. Story continuesMORE ARRESTSAlso on Thursday, prominent journalist Eskinder Nega said that five fellow activists in a pressure group opposed to domination of the Oromo ethnic group had been arrested.

Source: Ethiopian News June 27, 2019 08:37 UTC