Last updated on September 11th, 2021 at 03:18 pm
Ethiopian activist Jawar Mohammed called for calm on Thursday a day after 16 people were killed during clashes between his supporters and police in the capital and other cities.
Addressing hundreds of his supporters at his house in Addis Ababa, Jawar said: “Open the blocked roads, clean the towns of barricades, treat those who have been injured during the protests and reconcile with those you have quarrelled with.”
Police fired gunshots and tear gas on Wednesday to break up demonstrations against Jawar’s treatment by the government.
Jawar, a media entrepreneur, organised the demonstrations that helped bring Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to power last year.
Abiy won international praise for his political reforms in a country that has suffered decades of repressive rule, and last week was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to resolve a long-running conflict with neighbouring Eritrea.
