Bekele Gerba, a long-time figure in Ethiopian politics at both the personal and party levels, has announced his resignation from the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) and his decision to seek asylum in the United States, Addis Standard reports.
In an interview with the BBC, Bekele said the serious political situation in Ethiopia, which he believes hinders "peaceful struggle and personal freedom," is his reason for requesting asylum in America.
Gerba who was the first deputy of the OFC, said it would be impractical for him to continue in his position while residing abroad for over 15 months, thus prompting his withdrawal from the party.
Oromia region's simmering tensions erupted in deadly unrest in 2020 after the murder of famous Oromia singer Haacaaluu Hundeessa, whose music highlighted the struggles of the Oromo region and its people.
Bekele Gerba was one of the political activists arrested and detained by Ethiopian authorities for over 18 months before his release.
Bekele Gerba during an exclusive interview with Addis Standard shortly after his release from prison in 2015.
Ethiopia: 'Govt's Lack of Clear Political Agenda Exacerbated the War in Oromia'
Addis Standard, 21 February 2023
Following the peace agreement that ended the two years war in Northern Ethiopia, and amid increasing militarized hostilities between government forces and armed members of the… Read more »
Ethiopia: The Fracturing of the Oromo Elite and Return of Ethiopia's Law and Order State
Addis Standard, 13 August 2020
Ethiopia's delicate transition is under severe strain. A ferocious burst of communal violence in July, touched off by the murder of a popular Oromo singer, which claimed some 160… Read more »
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a telephone call with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, discussed the need to bring an end to ongoing instability in the Oromia region. This came in the backdrop of increasing hostilities between government forces and armed members of the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), known by the government as "Shene."
In the latest push for military solution, the
Ethiopian authorities should immediately release seven Oromo opposition figures arbitrarily detained for around three years purely for their political role, Human Rights Watch said in a statement today. The rights body said these cases underscore the urgent need for Ethiopia's government to reform the country's justice system.
Meanwhile, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission has in its annual report,
Read more »
AllAfrica publishes around 600 reports a day from more than 90 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.
Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.
AllAfrica is a voice of, by and about Africa - aggregating, producing and distributing 600 news and information items daily from over 90 African news organizations and our own reporters to an African and global public. We operate from Cape Town, Dakar, Abuja, Johannesburg, Nairobi and Washington DC.
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
