22nd October, 2016
The Ethiopian authorities have detained more than 1,600 people under the state of emergency. A statement, quoted by state-affiliated FBC website, lists arrests in the Oromia and Amhara regions, which have recently seen massive demonstrations. A six-month state of emergency was declared in the face of a wave of unprecedented anti-government protests. Under the emergency measures, people can be detained without an arrest warrant for the duration of the state of emergency. The arrests have been in at least five places, including Shashamene, 250km south of the capital, Addis Ababa. Some business people have been detained for closing their shops, as have three teachers for "abandoning school".