The decision has faced strong opposition in Amhara, with huge protests in cities and towns across the region. It has led a partial curfew being imposed in the historic city of Gondar, while clashes have been reported between protesters and the military in Kobe town, near the border with the neighbouring Tigray region. On Sunday, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed vowed to press ahead with his plan even if “a price had to be paid”.
In the capital Addis Ababa, the arrest of Amhara-linked journalists, commentators and community organizers has intensified in recent days. On Sunday, Meskerem Abera became the fourth media personality to be detained in less than a week.