A Coup Plot in Bahir Dar? What We Know Now

June 22, 2019
Ethiopia Observer 

Government says situation under control

Press Secretary at the Prime Minister Office Nigussu Tilahun says there was an attempted coup in Amhara regional state on late Saturday. He says a “well-organized group” has attempted to overthrow the regional government but security forces deployed by the federal government have repelled it and controlled the situation. He also said order has been given to arrest the instigators and to restore calm. A statement from the office of the Prime Minister also condemned the action, saying it was anti-constitutional and one that “poses threat to the peace and security of the region that people have been fighting to preserve.”

Witnesses told DW Amharic that gunfire was heard in Bahir Dar town starting from 6.30 PM for about half an hour. The explosions heard in around the region’s police commission headquarter, the region’s Council bureau and office of the chief administrator of the region, it was said.

Certain media reported some officials were injured in the attack, including Ambachew Mekonnen, president of the Amhara Regional State but there is no official confirmation to this. Addis Fortune on its Twitter feed wrote that the person who has sustained severe wound was the Attorney General of the Regional State, Megbaru Kebede.

Social media has been restricted in the regional capital, Bahir Dar and telephone services were hardly operating, Dw reported.

Who is behind the coup?

The Amhara Democratic Party (ADP) later issued a statement saying former military general and Amhara’s security head, Asaminew Tsige is behind the attempted coup. Asaminew was welcomed to the central committee of ADP on October 2018, after he was released from prison as part of the release of political prisoners by Abiy Ahmed’s administration and he was made to retire with all benefits, his titles reinstated.