Ethiopian Opposition Leader Chane Kebede Arrested

An Ethiopian opposition leader, Chane Kebede, the president of Ethiopian Citizens for Justice (Ezema), has been arrested in the capital, Addis Ababa, while his home and office were searched, according to his party. Chane Kebede, an ethnic Amhara, was reportedly detained on Sunday while at a cafe, and his party remains uncertain about the exact reasons for his arrest. Tensions in the Amhara region, including violence involving federal forces and a local militia known as Fano, have led to a state of emergency declared by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in early August. This state of emergency grants authorities broad powers, including the ability to make arrests, impose curfews, and prohibit public gatherings. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission has accused federal forces of carrying out extrajudicial killings and mass arbitrary detentions in Amhara during the state of emergency. Chane Kebede's arrest, according to his party, did not follow constitutional procedures, as he was reportedly taken away by unidentified individuals in a vehicle without license plates. Security forces also allegedly searched his office and apartment without presenting a search warrant. As of the time of reporting, Chane Kebede remained in detention at a crime investigation center in Addis Ababa, where he had not been questioned or brought before a judge. The situation in Amhara remains complex, with ongoing violence and restrictions on media access, making it difficult to verify events on the ground. Ezema, founded in 2019, emerged through the merger of various parties opposed to the EPRDF coalition that had ruled Ethiopia for decades. The party holds four seats in the lower house of parliament, which is predominantly controlled by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's Prosperity Party, formed after the dissolution of the EPRDF. Chane Kebede's arrest raises concerns about political tensions and restrictions on opposition figures in Ethiopia amid the ongoing challenges in the Amhara region.