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Addis Ababa – “We have just buried him, this is a sad day for us. The life of a promising young man was cut short too soon. May Allah have mercy on him and grant his family patience.” said Hussien (name changed on request) who spoke to Addis Standard after performing Janaza prayers at the Grand Mosque in Roobee in Awal Abdurro. He added: “Nothing is okay or will be okay as long as we live in a police state.”
His statements came after the appearance of a video that circulated on social networks of what appeared to be the formation of a meeting of young residents of Robe (Roobee), Bale Zone, Oromia Regional State. The meeting soon turned into a protest demanding the release of all political prisoners, and in the twenty-second video, youths could be heard chanting ‘Free Hamza Borana’. That provoked a reaction from members of the Oromia Special Police in an attempt to disperse him. In the short video, members of the Oromia Special Police are seen running towards the protesters and then gunshot sounds are heard in the background. Shortly after the video came out, reports of Awal Abdurro’s death and the injury of another protester began to flood social media. Addis Standard was able to confirm the death of Awal Abdurro, the injury of an unidentified young man and the arrest of a dozen.
Aman, an eyewitness, who for security reasons wants to be identified only by his first name, was present and on his way home from work when he saw people running in all directions. He told Addis Standard by phone: “I immediately knew something was wrong, I took refuge in a nearby coffee shop and left alone when things began to calm down. When I got home I found out what happened and went to the funeral oration. I met the boy and I wish his loss was not overlooked. ” When asked about the nature of the protest, Aman replied: “What I know is that there are some people arrested, Awal died and another person was injured.”
Addis Standard contacted the Oromia Special Police Force Commander repeatedly for comment on the death, injuries and arrests that occurred in Roobee, but was unsuccessful. HOW
