Veteran anti-ethnic politics activist accused of trying to incite ethnic and religious violence as part of alleged capital power grab.
On 10 September, federal prosecutors charged opposition leader Eskinder Nega and six others with crimes including training a terror group to assassinate the former acting Addis Ababa mayor and inciting ethnic and religious conflict to try and illegally take power in the capital.Eskinder, a writer and politician who opposes ethno-nationalist movements and styles himself as a pro-democracy activist, has been arrested multiple times before his 1 July detention during a bout of deadly political violence. He was sentenced to 18 years for terrorism offenses, including trying to foment an ‘Ethiopian Spring’ in 2012 and released in 2018. In 2006, after the violent fallout from competitive elections the year before, Eskinder was imprisoned for treason, but released a year later.
The head of the Balderas for True Democracy Party, which is registered by the electoral board and whose stated mission is to protect the rights of citizens in self-governing, multi-ethnic Addis Ababa, is on trial at the Federal High Court with six co-defendants, two of whom are at large and four of who are leading Balderas officials. On 17 September, the charges were read to the defendants, who are in two groups. Lawyer Henok Akilu told Ethiopia Insight that the defense team did not attend the hearing as they were informed too late.
The charge sheet against Eskinder and four others says that since August 2019 they appointed themselves to a “caretaker” Addis Ababa council, attempted 14 times to initiate ethnic and religious conflict, and conspired against the government and the constitution.
Among the second set of charges, which also include Eskinder, are that they organized the training of a terrorist group in Motta, East Gojjam Zone, Amhara region, with the aim of assassinating former acting mayor Takele Uma and other top officials. The sixth defendant, Ashenafi Aweke, recruited and presented the trainees to Eskinder, the charges allege. They will also be tried for plotting to burn religious institutions to create chaos in Addis Ababa and overthrow the city government.
The first group are charged under articles 32(1)(a) and (b), 35, 38, and 240(1)(b) of the Criminal Code. The two absentee defendants and Eskinder are also accused of violating articles 32, 35, and 38 of the Criminal Code and Article 6(2) of Proclamation 1176/2020 Anti-Terrorism Proclamation.
Yesterday, the Attorney General’s Office announced that Oromo nationalist leaders Jawar Mohammed and Bekele Gerbe would also be charged with terrorism crimes. Meanwhile, centrist politician Lidetu Ayalew, is being prosecuted for firearms offenses in an Oromia court.
According to prosecutors, the first five defendants in Eskinder’s case and their followers used fake Facebook accounts and other means of communication with the aim of provoking clashes between Amhara and Oromo and Muslims and Christians. When a site was designated in Nefas Silk Sub-City for construction of a mosque, on 12 August 2019, Eskinder, as self-appointed leader of the ‘caretaker’ council, ordered his followers to spread information that Takele is promoting Islam’s expansion and used words that were designed to provoke Muslims, the charges state.
On 5 February, after police and community members clashed around Haya Arat area in Addis Ababa over the construction of a church, Eskinder is accused of attempting to initiate unrest by visiting the location and telling the community that this is the work of Takele, and that the now Mines Minister is a “killer”.
The charge sheet says that on 10 April, at the headquarters of Balderas, Eskinder told supporters: “We will use every opportunity and pay every sacrifice including our lives to remove the government by 10 October [the original expiry of all governments’ five-year terms before parliament extended them in June due to the pandemic]. We are prepared for both peaceful and armed struggle. Sub cities which aren’t well organized should be accordingly organized.”
In May, prosecutors say Eskinder told party members: “The election has been postponed. This isn’t a legitimate government and it will only stay in power after 10 October over our dead bodies. Alert the forces in and around the city to be prepared and we’ll have aid from our members inside the Orthodox Church.”
Moreover, the defendants allegedly used musician Hachalu Hundessa’s 29 June killing to stoke ethnic and religious clashes. The next morning, Eskinder and two other defendants told supporters that Qeerroos—literally, Oromo bachelors, but also the name of a youthful political movement that has been involved in peaceful and violent protests since 2015—are coming into Addis Ababa from multiple directions and they need to attack to make them retreat. Following the order given to youth groups by him and the fourth defendant, Askale Demese, Oromo and their properties were attacked around Kirkos and Kolfe Keranyo sub-cities and Tor Hailoch.
On 1 July, the day of his arrest, prosecutors say Eskinder told the second defendant, Sentayehu Chekol, a top Balderas official, to organize youth groups around Kirkos, distribute flyers, and engage in unrest. Allegedly, Eskinder promised 500,000 birr for the activity. On the same day, both defendants went to Bulgaria in Kirkos Sub-City and disseminated false reports that Qeerroos are coming to burn down Kirkos and St. Michael churches. That drove the churches to ring emergency bells, thereby fueling more unrest.
Due to the defendants organizing attacks on Oromo, Tigrayans and Muslims, 14 fatalities and the destruction of more than 187-million-birr worth of property occurred, prosecutors allege.
Eskinder told the court that security will be best served by releasing him: “If the state is worried about public safety, the best thing for the public peace and security is if we got released and participated in the election. The election won’t be trusted by the public if we are excluded.” Later he added: “The entire nation knows we are political prisoners and since the attorney general is recently appointed I understand he will experience a lot of pressure from the top officials to bring the desired outcome.”
Sentayehu said: “Takele has been unlawfully handing over to individuals, lands, condominium apartments and identity cards in Addis Ababa. As politicians who stood for public interest, it is our duty to reveal and contest such illegal actions, but we never planned to employ forceful measures.”
The charge sheet says the seventh defendant, Fetawi Gebremedhin, was previously sentenced to death and escaped from prison. However, defense lawyer Henock told Ethiopia Insight that neither he nor his clients have any knowledge of Fetawi and suspect he may not exist.
The defense asked the court to release the defendants on bail. The prosecution protested, as the charges carry potentially more than 15 years imprisonment, and as there is a possibility of further crimes since the defendants are willing to give their lives to overthrow the government. The defense objected that the charges carry a minimum of 10 years and bail is a constitutional right. Judges rule on the bail request on 22 September.
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The government of Abiyi is more terrorist than Iskinder Nega, but Iskinder is not innocent at all, he is racist who deneid the riality of Oromo existence on Finfine/addis ababa!!
The Apartheid Document Must Go !!!!
Carving ethnic map currently at 10 “soverign states” into unknown numbers in the near future has been a recipe for ethnic cleansing and thousands of deaths including hundreds week ago in Benishanguel Gumuz. Killing non Oromos in Oromo state has been non stop in the last two years.
TPLF that carved its map by taking fertile land from Welkait Tegede, Raya and currently shooting Afars to expand its map is the owner of the illegal document called “Constitution”.
The Oromo tribalists are expanding, catching TPLF carving huge land in the last 2 and half years ethnically cleansing the south in hundreds of thousands.
They are confiscating newly built condos for their tribe and empty lots in Addis Ababa.This is executed by an unelected mayor and the Oromo Prosperity Party. The Balderas party leaders are locked up for organizing Addis Ababa residents fighting the Oromo take over of their city.
Abiy Ahmed lost its support in the diaspora two years ago when he declared a war on the Balderas party.
There is no difference between TPLF and Abiy Ahmed led PP. TPLF built roads and houses in Addis Ababa and many of which it owned and kept collecting rent for the last two years after it was kicked from power it controlled for 27 yrs.
Abiy Ahmed is building a river park and renewing the old palace, the 7 million residents have no say and are treated less than the animals in the zoo in the park !!!!
The Oromos are working 24/7 to officially declare Addis Ababa as their future capital for Oromo Republic when all the tribal states followed Tigray Republic, their vanguard that won 100% of the election it organized a few weeks ago. Tigray Republic is on the pipeline !!!
The total war to break Ethiopia can only be averted unfortunately by African Union. African Union has to prepare sending its peacekeeping force in Addis Ababa where its headquarter is located.
African countries will not allow Tribal States formation by Anti Africa forces by destroying Ethiopia. Old friends of Ethiopia like Russia and others will not seat idle either.
It is time for Ethiopians to denounce both TPLF and the Abiy Ahmed administration who are taking Ethiopia to catastrophic war using their illegal document called constitution. Down with the Apartheid document !!!!
In many ways Prime Minster Abiy’s was of dealing in politics is similar to TPLF/Meles. Here there are criminals and terrorists who burned down the whole city of Shashemena and surrounding areas – Jewar and Bekele. These terrorists may be freed, who knows. But when it comes to Eskinder the government have nada evidence against him – He is the enemy of Prosperity or OPDO because he is fighting them to freed Addis Ababan’s from the grip of OPDO. Please move your knee from our neck OPDO. OPDO is holding Addis Ababa hostage which Meles put it in their hand to play his game. Now OPDO is insisting that they are awarded by TPLF and not letting it go. Many smaller regions in the country are administrating their regions Harrari, Sidama, etc. but when it comes to Addis Ababa one of the biggest city in Africa the residents, cannot be put in a race bucket, have no mandate to elect their own Mayor? That is unbelievably incompetent and unfair. The price may be too higher but Addis eventually will be liberated whether Eskender is in prison or out.
Here is an idea. If you are not a long time resident of Addis and don’t know the streets, then you can’t be a mayor and run the city.
plotting to kill takele uma? Really? Their evidence better be very convincing however doctored it may be. We all know why he is persona non grata with the incumbent party – exposing their lies.
The idea that you are referring to this guy as non-ethinic activist is laughable and bizzre because this guy is the most radical human on face of the earth. He doesn’t absolutely care every single nation and nationlity are exterminated from face of the earth beside Amhara ethinic ground.
It’s only fair to criticize the person for all his faults but this is an obnoxious lie! For your reference about the type of person he is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNXhoJkUGoc&ab_channel=AbbayMedia .
If you are saying he is running a different agenda from what he is preaching please present the appropriate evidence.
Querro is not a terrorist . Eskinder Nega last year went to the United Nations asking Querro to be labeled as a terrorist group which is commiting Crimes Against Humanity against Christians , against Amaras , against Gurages , against Wolaitas , against Gamos while as the current evidence showed it was him Eskinder Nega on instigating the Crimes Against Humanities terror acts.
The truth came out about the 86 people who died in October 2019 , about the Shashamane Arsi Ziway Benishangil Gumuz barbaric mutilations killings , now the world knows Querro Oromos are not the terrorists but the Balderas terrorists are the terrorists commiting the Crimes Against Humanities .
“Veteran anti-ethnic politics activist…”
Are you for real?
The charges are ridiculous, but he’s no angel either.
Tigray plf , Oromo Fc , AmaraDP , OromoLF , Amara NM …. Are all ethnic based political parties .
Balderas political is not ethnic based political party.
Balderas political party consists of all ethnicities and Eskinder Nega is the President of Balderas political party who Abiy the federal PP party and Take (Adanech) the Addis Ababa City PP party are trying to assassinate.