Govt 25 Nov said it had arrested 103 people, mostly from Oromia state, in connection with recent violence between ethnic Oromo and Somalis along border of their ethnically-based states. State broadcaster 27 Nov reported over twenty people killed in renewed clashes between Oromo and Somalis in disputed border areas late Nov.

Security forces clashed with anti-govt protestors on several occasions in Oromia regional state. Oromia official said federal forces killed at least six anti-govt protesters in multiple locations 11 Oct. Following clashes between ethnic Somalis and Oromo in disputed areas along border between Somali and Oromia regional states in Sept, residents in Soddo, Oromia region 12 Oct blocked lorries escorted by federal security forces which they suspected were taking arms to Somali regional state’s Liyu special police; security forces reportedly opened fire killing four protestors. Federal security forces 26 Oct fired on demonstrators protesting sugar shortage in Ambo, 120km west of Addis Ababa; regional official said eight killed. About ten people killed in clashes between ethnic Oromo and Amharas in western Oromia mid-Oct; federal govt 29 Oct said it had arrested over 240 people. Parliamentary speaker Abadula Gemeda 8 Oct resigned because his fellow Oromos had been “disrespected”. Clashes in Benishangul Gumuz regional state in west between ethnic Gumuz and Amharas left eight people dead late Oct.

Clashes between ethnic Oromo and Somalis erupted early Sept in disputed areas along border between Oromia and Somali regional states in south and east, at least 50 people killed. Oromia region official 17 Sept claimed fighting had displaced over 55,000 Oromos from Somali region. Six Oromo parties 13 Sept accused Somali regional state govt of waging war to drive Oromos out of border areas. Govt 25 Sept accused Somaliland of displacing over 3,000 Oromos into Ethiopia’s Oromia and Somali regions.

Parliament 4 Aug lifted state of emergency imposed in Oct 2016 after year of protests for increased political freedoms in capital Addis Ababa, and Amhara and Oromia regions. In Oromia, opposition group Oromo Federalist Congress 23 Aug called for five-day strike, reportedly to demand release of political prisoners and commemorate protesters killed in 2016 protests; unclaimed bombing in Jimma, Oromia region in south west 24 Aug injured thirteen.

Federal govt’s introduction of law 7 July raising taxes on small businesses triggered protests in several towns in Oromia region; business owners 17 July called for open-ended strikes. Clashes between police and protestors in Ambo, 120km west of Addis Ababa left two protestors dead, allegedly shot by police mid-July. Govt cancelled tax hike 23 July. Govt 21 July agreed to bolster security and defence cooperation with Djibouti.

UN human rights chief Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein during visit 2-4 May called for “open democratic space” and reiterated request for access to areas affected by anti-govt protests.

Presidents of Oromia and Somali regions 19 April agreed to resolve dispute over status of some 400 districts along common border, driver of low-level conflict since 2005. FM Gebeyehu and Egyptian president met in Cairo 19 April and recommitted to resolve issues over use of Nile water and Grand Renaissance Dam, agreed officials would meet every two months.

Govt 1 March said security forces had prevented twenty members of Eritrea-based rebel Benishangul Gumuz People’s Liberation Movement (BPLM) from attacking Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) 28 Feb; reportedly killed thirteen BPLM, said seven escaped to Sudan where they were arrested and handed over to Ethiopia. Govt 2 March accused Eritrea of supporting BPLM rebels, Asmara denied involvement. Four ethnic Oromo parties 19 March demanded involvement in resolving dispute over city administration and compensation for displacement of Oromos from Addis Ababa over last 25 years. Court 28 March sentenced sixteen members of outlawed Oromo Liberation Front to four to thirteen years in prison for trying to create separate state in Oromia region. Parliament 30 March extended state of emergency begun in Oct for four months. Gunmen from S Sudan 12-13 March reportedly killed 28 people and abducted 43 children in Gambella region in west.

Govt 3 Feb said it would release additional 11,352 of more than 23,000 people arrested since state of emergency imposed Oct 2016 in response to violent anti-govt protests, said it released some 9,800 in Dec. Govt held talks with Kenya in Nairobi 15-17 Feb to resolve dispute over Ethiopia’s use of water from rivers that feed Lake Turkana in Kenya (see Kenya). PM Desalegn and S Sudan President Kiir 24 Feb signed eight agreements to enhance economic cooperation and border security; Desalegn said Ethiopia building road to enable S Sudan to export oil.

Unidentified assailants launched grenade attacks on hotels in Bahir Dar 4 Jan and Gondar 10 Jan, both in Amhara region; second blast killed one, injured dozens. Ethnic Murle militia from S Sudan early Jan entered Ethiopia’s western Gambela region, killed eleven people and abducted twenty children.