Ethiopia’s cabinet on Tuesday declared a nationwide state of emergency effective immediately.
Gatekeepers News reports that authorities in Addis Ababa have urged citizens to register their firearms and prepare to defend the capital, as fighters from the Northern region of Tigray threatened to march towards the city.
The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) recently claimed control of two key cities about 400 kilometres (250 miles) from Addis Ababa. Soldiers are still battling for control of the two strategic towns of Dessie and Kombolcha in the neighbouring Amhara region.
“The state of emergency is aimed to protect civilians from atrocities being committed by the terrorist TPLF group in several parts of the country,” state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting reported on Tuesday, referring to the TPLF.
The state of emergency allows, among other things, for roadblocks to be established, transport services to be disrupted, curfews to be imposed and for the military to take over in certain areas. Anyone suspected of having links with “terrorist” groups could also be detained without a court warrant, while any citizen who has reached the age of military service could be called to fight.
“Our country is facing a grave danger to its existence, sovereignty and unity. And we can’t dispel this danger through the usual law enforcement systems and procedures,” Justice Minister Gedion Timothewos told a state media briefing.
He said anyone violating the emergency would face three to 10 years in prison, for offences such as providing financial, material or moral support to “terrorist groups”.
