A festival turned tragic on Sunday following a confrontation between Ethiopian police and the ethnic Oromo people. Tension ensued when the Oromo people who were attending Irrecha festival to thank Waaqa (God) for the blessings and mercies, also demanded for equal rights in the country with over 96 million people.
The crowd chanted ‘we need freedom’ while displaying crossed wrists, a popular gesture of dissent against Ethiopian government’s alleged oppression.