How is it that thousands of Ethiopians in Germany living in this life-threatening pandemic time demonstrate? The murdered singer and activist Hachalu Hundesa belonged to the Oromo ethnic group. In his music he often expressed the Oromo's feeling of being economically and politically disadvantaged, even though they are the largest population group in terms of numbers. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed also belongs to the Oromo. After the death of Hachalu in Addis Ababa, there were religiously and ethnically motivated attacks in the Oromia region. As a result, at least 269 Ethiopians were brutally killed by radical ethnic Oromo nationalists and some towns in the Oromia region were destroyed. In one of the cities called Shashemene, almost all business centers, hotels and homes belonging to non-Oromo and Oromo Christians burnt to the ground.
When Abiy Ahmed came to power in April 2018, the Oromo had hope for the first time. For the time being, one of their own was the head of the state. But ethnically. controlled politics is foreign to the new Prime Minister. The Oromo continued to feel disadvantaged, their disappointment soon erupted in violent protests.
During the demonstration Ethiopians marched together and called for justice as to who of the attackers had killed and looted. The demonstration was moved from Frankfurt central station to Opernplatz. The demonstration ended on an open space where the representatives of the protesters read out letters with demands to the Ethiopian government:
In their poems and slogans, the demonstrators also demanded that the German government should take an unshakable stance against the "keyboard warriors" who live in Germany and order others to block roads and to kill. The demonstration was organised by the Ethiopian Forum for Dialogue and Cooperation in Germany, a civil, political and religious organization in which I am a member and active participant.
I hope that a better day with our Nobel Peace Prize Prime Minister in Peris together with other politicians and party leaders who are spending their lives for a better future of Ethiopia will come.
Yohannes report no. 1
Yohannes report no. 2
Yohannes report no. 3
Yohannes report no. 4: An exhibition
Yohannes report no. 5: Demonstrations for justice
Yohannes report no. 6: Master thesis
Yohannes report no. 7: Farewell