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Upcoming Protest Against Abiy Ahmed’s Regime in Sweden

Date of Event: October-17-2024
Location: Minstry of Foreign Affairs in Sweden
Time: 12:00 – 14:00

An upcoming protest, organized by the Ethiopian Refugee Association in Sweden, is set to take place in Stockholm to raise international awareness of the ongoing atrocities committed against the Amhara ethnic group and the suppression of media freedom in Ethiopia under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s regime. Ethiopian refugees and members of the diaspora in Sweden will gather to demand global attention and action against what they view as systematic ethnic violence and repression of free speech in their home country.

The Ethiopian Refugee Association in Sweden, which represents the Ethiopian diaspora, especially those who fled due to ethnic conflicts, has expressed deep concern over the escalating violence against the Amhara community. Since 2018, Ethiopia has experienced significant ethnic unrest, with the Amharas being disproportionately affected. Reports of mass killings, displacements, and ethnic-based attacks have drawn attention to the plight of the Amhara people, particularly in regions like Oromia and Benishangul-Gumuz.

The protesters aim to draw attention to these human rights abuses, with a particular focus on the Amharas, who they argue are facing a crisis of ethnic cleansing. They are calling for justice, protection for their communities, and international intervention to prevent further violence.

Protesters will argue that the suppression of media freedom is exacerbating Ethiopia’s ethnic violence crisis by silencing voices that seek to hold the government accountable. Independent journalists and news outlets operating in Ethiopia have reported that they are unable to freely cover the violence, particularly in Amhara and Oromia, due to fear of government retaliation.

The Ethiopian Refugee Association in Sweden is a collective of Ethiopian exiles and asylum seekers who have fled Ethiopia due to the political instability and ethnic violence. Many members of the group are Amharas or other ethnic minorities who escaped persecution, while others are journalists and activists who faced repression under Abiy Ahmed’s regime.

Objectives of the Protest

  1. End the violence against Amharas: The protesters will demand immediate action from the Ethiopian government to stop ethnic violence against the Amhara people and to hold those responsible for the killings accountable.
  2. Restore media freedom: The protest will call for the protection of journalists and the restoration of free press in Ethiopia, allowing the media to freely report on the ongoing ethnic conflicts and hold government authorities accountable.
  3. International intervention: The protest aims to pressure international bodies, including the United Nations, the European Union, and human rights organizations, to intervene in Ethiopia’s ethnic conflict and to press the Ethiopian government for reforms.
  4. Humanitarian aid for displaced Amharas: Activists are also pushing for increased humanitarian assistance for the thousands of Amharas displaced by the violence, urging NGOs and foreign governments to support refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Conclusion

The upcoming protest in Stockholm organized by the Ethiopian Refugee Association in Sweden represents an important moment for the Ethiopian diaspora to call attention to the human rights abuses in their home country. With a focus on the killings of Amharas and the stifling of media freedom, the protest seeks to challenge the Ethiopian government’s policies and urge international bodies to intervene before the crisis deepens further.

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