Regional States, City Administration Denounce Killings of Officials

Addis   Ababa July 23/2019   Regional governments of Oromia, Tigray and Somali and Addis Ababa City Administration have denounced the killings of officials of the Amhara regional government and Defense Force.

Dr Ambachew Mekonen, chief administrator of the region his advisor Ezez Wase, Chief of Staff, General Seare Mekonen, and a retired defense member were killed in an orchestrated attack.

The chief administrator of Amhara Regional State Ambachew Mekonen and his Advisor Ezez were killed yesterday in an attempt coup in the city of Bahir Dar.

General Seare Mekonen, Chief of Staff of the Defense Forces was killed last night at his house alongside Major General Gezai Abera, a friend of his and a retired member of the military.

In a press conference he gave here today, Nigusu Tilahun, Head of Press Secretariat, said the Chief of Staff was shot by his own guard in an orchestrated attack that has linked to the attempted coup.

The attack was carried out yesterday at the chief administrator's office in Bahir Dar, the seat for the regional government, when the chief administrator and other high level officials of the regional government were in a meeting.

The attack against the Chief of Staff happened within few hours after a group attacked the chief administrator and high level officials of Amhara regional state.

According to Nigusu, the attacks were orchestrated by Brigadier General Asaminew Tsige, head of the Amhara region security.

Brigadier General Asaminew Tsige was among the thousands of prisoners who were released on amnesty as a result of the sweeping reforms.

Nigusu, who said that the attack was a plan intended to undermine the achievements of the reform and make the region a war zone, said "the plan has totally failed".

Most of the individuals who were involved in the attacks are apprehended and search is being conducted to arrest the remaining perpetrators, Nigusu said.