Ethiopian marathon runner, Feyisa Lilesa, recently drew international attention to Ethiopia’s human rights crisis when he crossed his arms in protest after finishing his Olympic race. His protest was against the government’s crackdown on peaceful protesters this past July that took place throughout the Oromia region. More than 200 protestors were killed during the demonstrations which was just the latest chapter in government violence against the Oromo ethnic population. Although they account for nearly a third of Ethiopia’s total population, they have historically been left out of their country’s decision-making processes. Over the last year, Oromo protesters have increasingly voiced their frustration with the government’s discriminatory treatment.

 

The Ethiopian government’s attacks on the right to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression have prompted civil society organizations to sign a joint letter to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). The letter asks the UN to prioritize the human rights crisis in Ethiopia during the upcoming 33rd session of the UNHRC (September 13-30). Both the European Union and the UN have previously commented on the crackdown in Ethiopia and called upon the government to practice “restraint” with their security forces.

 

On September 1, the African Union (AU) issued a statement expressing concern about the growing political violence Ethiopia. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of AU Commission, urged “dialogue among all stakeholders in Ethiopia,” and called for “lasting solutions to the social, political and economic issues motivating the protests.” After his act of protest, the silver medal recipient was too frightened to return back home, publicly stating that “if I go back to Ethiopia, maybe they will kill me.” On September 13, Lilesa spoke at a press conference in Washington, D.C. where he announced that he had been granted a temporary visa to the United States.