Ethiopia: Somali, Oromo….the turbulent politics around Dire Dawa

This article is published in partnership with Ethiopia Insight.

“It was crazy,” he said. “You never knew if a bullet or a piece of rock would land on you.” His hometown Dire Dawa, often portrayed in popular culture as an embodiment of multicultural coexistence, witnessed multiple violent incidents in that year – many of which had ethnic and religious undertones.

In October 2019, security forces fired tear gas to control widespread clashes among youth from different faith groups. Roads to and from the city were closed while the city transportation was halted. Buildings – particularly in the vicinity called Kebele 5 – were set ablaze. Ambulances rushed to Dil Chora Hospital carrying the injured. The incident was triggered by rocks thrown at churchgoers returning from an Epiphany celebration, observed with much festivity among Orthodox Christians.

In June 2019, at least two were killed when