Ethiopia's army chief of staff Seare Mekonnen (pictured above, right) was shot dead by his bodyguard just hours after an attempted coup in Amhara state left the regional president and another top adviser dead, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's office confirmed on Sunday.

Earlier, PM Ahmed announced the government had put down a coup attempt in the autonomous Amhara state in the country's north.

In his TV address, the premier said that the botched coup was led by a very high-ranking regional military official and others within the country's military. Billene Seyoum, a spokeswoman for PM Ahmed, later said the coup attempt was orchestrated by General Asamnew Tsige, the region's head of security.

State media also reported that both the head of Amhara's regional government, Ambachew Mekonnen, and his advisor, were killed, during the coup attempt.

Describing the circumstances of General Mekonnen's death, PM's press secretary Seyoum said that he was shot dead by his bodyguard just hours after an attempted coup in Amhara left the regional president and another top adviser dead.

Seyoum told journalists a "hit squad" led by Amhara's security chief Tsige burst into a government meeting on Saturday afternoon, wounding regional president Ambachew Mekonnen and another top official, who both died of their wounds.

Later that evening in what appeared a "coordinated attack", army chief Seare Mekonnen, and a retired general who was visiting him, were killed by his bodyguard, said Billene.

Earlier, PM Ahmed said that General Mekonnen "was shot by people who are close to him," adding that the regional government officials were in a meeting when a coup attempt occurred.

The premier said Mekonnen had been shot while trying to fend off the attackers.

Early on Sunday, Brigadier General Tefera Mamo, the head of special forces in Amhara, said on TV: "Most of the people who attempted the coup have been arrested, although there are a few still at large."

At the time, no details were given about who was behind the coup attempt in the northern state, led by regional president Ambachew Mekonen.

"The coup attempt in Amhara regional state is against the constitution and is intended to scupper the hard won peace of the region," the government said in a statement. "This illegal attempt should be condemned by all Ethiopians and the federal government has full capacity to overpower this armed group."

Residents in the region's capital, Bahir Dar, reported hearing gunshots in the city.

The US embassy issued alerts about gunfire in the country's capital, Addis Adaba, and violence around Bahir Dar.

Internet and media access has reportedly been limited across the country. Internet and cybersecurity monitor group NetBlocks reported nationwide internet access was at 2% of normal levels.

A former army intelligence officer, Abiy took office in April 2018 following three years of protests that forced Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn to resign.

He has since implemented economic reforms, opened up political space and prosecuted officials accused of human rights abuses. He also established relations with neighboring Eritrea.

However, ethnic tensions that were kept in check by the iron-fist of past rulers has lead to deadly violence.

Every evening, DW sends out a selection of the day's news and features. Sign up here. </s> Seare Mekonnen, chief of staff of the Ethiopian army, has been shot dead alongside Ambachew Mekonnen, regional governor of Amhara, amid a reported coup attempt in the northern region.

According to Reuters, the two were killed in separate attacks after a general tried to seize control of power in Amhara.

The army chief and another retired general were reportedly shot dead by the former’s bodyguard during a meeting in his official’s home in Addis Ababa.

Seare was shot dead alongside his adviser in Bahir Dar, Amhara’s capital, on Saturday evening, according to a statement from the office of Abiy Ahmed, the prime minister.

Billene Seyoum, the PM’s spokesman, was quoted as telling journalists a “hit squad” led by Asaminew Tsige, Amhara’s security chief, invaded a meeting where the governor was and shot him dead.

“Several hours later in what seems like a coordinated attack, the chief of the staff of the national security forces Seare Mekonnen was killed in his home by his bodyguard in Addis Ababa,” Seyoum was quoted to have said.

The bodyguard is said to have been apprehended while Asaminew is still on the loose.

In a TV broadcast shortly after the incident, the PM urged Ethiopians to unite in the face of “evil forces” set on dividing the country. </s> It was a sombre Monday for Ethiopia as the country held a national day of mourning.

Ethiopia was grieving the brutal death of the chief of the national army staff and a regional leader, killed in what the authorities have described as an “attempted coup d‘état” against the government of the northwestern region.

The office of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said that an “orchestrated coup attempt occurred on Saturday night against the President of the Amhara regional government”, one of Ethiopia’s nine autonomous regions, and the second most populous in the country.

Amhara regional ‘s president, Ambachew Mekonnen, and one of his advisors were killed in an attack in Bahir Dar, the region’s capital.

In a separate attack, but which, according to the authorities, appears to be “coordinated”, the Chief of Staff of the Ethiopian Armed Forces, General Seare Mekonnen, was killed by his bodyguard at his home in Addis Ababa.

The Amharas are Ethiopia’s second largest ethnic group after the Oromos. Both ethnic groups have been at the forefront of two years of demonstrations that have shaken the country.

Abiy Ahmed, of Oromo decent, has worked to democratize the country, legalizing dissident groups and improving press freedom.

But with the relaxed rule comes the liberal acts of ethnic tensions, often involving land and resources, that have led to violence in Ethiopia </s> Ethiopia’s army general accused of leading a failed coup in the restive northern region of the horn of Africa nation was killed Monday in a firefight with security forces.

Brig. Gen. Asamnew Tsige was killed on the outskirts of Bahir Dar, capital of the restive northern Amhara region.

Forces had been hunting down Asamnew since Saturday, when soldiers loyal to him killed the regional governor of the Amhara government and his advisor.

The regional attorney general, wounded in that attack, died Monday.

Meanwhile, It was a sombre Monday as the country held a national day of mourning. It was grieving the brutal death of the chief of the national army staff and a regional leader, killed in what the authorities have described as an “attempted coup d‘état” against the government of the northwestern region. </s> Ethiopia says plotter of failed coup is killed by military

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) — The Ethiopian army brigadier general accused of leading a failed coup against a regional government has been killed in a firefight with the security forces, a spokesman for the Ethiopian prime minister's office said Monday.

Brig. Gen. Asamnew Tsige was killed on the outskirts of Bahir Dar, capital of the restive northern Amhara region, Nigussu Tilahun told The Associated Press.

Ethiopian forces had been hunting down Asamnew since soldiers loyal to him on Saturday attacked a meeting of the Amhara government, killing the regional governor and his adviser.

That attack was followed hours later by the assassination in Addis Ababa of the chief of Ethiopia's military and a retired army general by a bodyguard.

An internet shutdown remains in force across Ethiopia following the Saturday killings.

Ethiopian military have set up checkpoints in the capital and in the Amhara region.

Flags are flying at half-mast Monday which has been declared a day of national mourning following the four killings. </s> Ethiopia’s army chief of staff, General Seare Mekonnen and at least three other senior officials have been killed during a coup attempt by an army general in the northern state of Amhara, state television said on Sunday.

Amhara’s state president Ambachew Mekonnen and his advisor were also killed, according to state media, which named the region’s security head, General Asamnew Tsige, as the orchestrator of the attempted coup.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government faces growing pressure from regional strongmen, including in Amhara, a flashpoint in growing ethnic violence in Ethiopia.

The shooting occurred when federal officials were meeting the state president – an ally of Abiy – to discuss how to rein in the open recruitment of ethnic militias by Asamnew, one Addis-based official told Reuters.

A week earlier, Asamnew had openly advised the Amhara people, one of Ethiopia’s larger ethnic groups, to arm themselves, in a video spread on Facebook and seen by a Reuters reporter.

Ethiopia, a nation of 100 million people, is struggling to contain widespread ethnic violence that has displaced around 2.4 million people, according to the United Nations.

Abiy donned military fatigues to announce on state television late on Saturday that there had been an attempted coup in Amhara’s capital Bahir Dar earlier that day and that Ethiopia’s Chief of Staff General Seare Mekonnen was among the casualties.

“He was shot by people who are close to him,” Abiy said.

Seare had been shot dead by his bodyguard, state media reported on Sunday. Most of the perpetrators had been arrested, a general in charge of special forces in Amhara told state media on Sunday.

Since coming to power last year, Abiy has tried to spearhead political reforms in the Horn of Africa nation. Three years of political violence led to the unprecedented resignation of Abiy’s predecessor, Hailemariam Desalegn.

Abiy has released political prisoners, removed bans on political parties and prosecuted officials accused of gross human rights abuses, but his government is battling mounting violence.

Ethnic bloodshed – long held in check by the state’s iron grip – has flared up in many areas, including Amhara, where the regional government was led by Mekonnen.

On Saturday, the U.S. Embassy said that it was aware of reports of gunfire in Addis Ababa, and some residents told Reuters about hearing six shots ring out in a suburb near the country’s Bole International Airport around 9:30 p.m. local time on Saturday. The government did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

People in many parts of Ethiopia reported being unable to access the Internet beginning late Saturday although the government has not stated whether it had cut it off. Authorities have cut off the internet several times in the past for security and other reasons.

Early on Sunday, Brigadier General Tefera Mamo, the head of special forces in Amhara, told state television that “most of the people who attempted the coup have been arrested, although there are a few still at large.”

Residents in Amhara’s capital Bahir Dar said late on Saturday there was gunfire in some neighborhoods and some roads had been closed off.

Ethiopia is due to hold a national parliamentary election next year. Several opposition groups have called for the polls to be held on time despite the unrest and displacement. </s> ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – Ethiopia’s army chief of staff and the regional president of the northern state of Amhara were killed in two related attacks when a general tried to seize control of Amhara in an attempted coup, the prime minister’s office said on Sunday.

Amhara state president Ambachew Mekonnen and his advisor were shot dead and the state’s attorney general was wounded in Amhara’s capital of Bahir Dar on Saturday evening, according to a statement from the office of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

In a separate attack the same night, Ethiopia’s army Chief of Staff Seare Mekonnen and another retired general were shot dead in Seare’s home in Addis Ababa by his bodyguard. The two attacks were linked, the statement said, without giving details.

Abiy’s office named Amhara state security head General Asamnew Tsige as responsible for the foiled coup, without giving details of his whereabouts. Asamnew was released from prison last year, having been given an amnesty for a similar coup attempt, according to media reports.

Abiy took office just over a year ago and embarked on unprecedented reforms in Ethiopia, Africa’s second-most populous country and one of its fastest-growing economies.

But the premier’s shake-up of the military and intelligence services has earned him powerful enemies, while his government is struggling to rein in powerful figures in Ethiopia’s myriad ethnic groups fighting the federal government and each other for greater influence and resources.

The shooting in Bahir Dar occurred when the state president – an ally of Abiy – was holding a meeting to decide how to put a stop to the open recruitment of ethnic Amhara militias by Asamnew, one Addis-based official told Reuters.

Asamnew had advised the Amhara people to arm themselves in preparation for fighting against other groups, in a video spread on Facebook a week earlier and seen by a Reuters reporter.

Abiy donned military fatigues to announce the attempted coup on state television on Saturday evening. Residents of Bahir Dar, about 500 kilometers (311 miles) northwest of Addis, said there was at least four hours of gunfire on Saturday evening and some roads had been closed off.

“The situation in the Amhara region is currently under full control by the Federal Government in colloboration with the regional government,” Abiy said in the statement on Sunday.

The U.S. Embassy tweeted it had heard reports of gunfire in Addis Ababa on Saturday night, and some residents told Reuters they heard six shots in a suburb near the country’s Bole International Airport around 9:30 p.m. local time.

The capital was quieter than usual on Sunday, with fewer cars or pedestrians on the streets.

Earlier Brigadier General Tefera Mamo, the head of special forces in Amhara, told state television that “most of the people who attempted the coup have been arrested, although there are a few still at large.”

He did not give details about Asamnew.

Since coming to power, Abiy has released political prisoners, removed bans on political parties and prosecuted officials accused of gross human rights abuses, but his government is battling ethnic bloodshed once held in check by the state’s iron grip.

Now some of Ethiopia’s ethnic groups are disputing the boundaries of the country’s nine federal states, or arguing that they too should have regional governments, claims that threaten the dominance of other groups.

Amhara is home to Ethiopia’s second largest ethnic group of the same name and their native tongue, Amharic, is also the country’s official language. The anti-government protests that

lasted three years and eventually forced former prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn to resign in 2018 had begun in the neighbouring state of Oromia but quickly spread to Amhara.

Demonstators were angered by grievances over land rights, political and economic marginalisation – issues that Abiy is now racing to address.

“He (Abiy) seems to be dismantling the EPRDF (ruling coalition) and is entertaining thoughts of altering the architecture of federalism, but he hasn’t given any clear direction he’s heading in,” said Matt Bryden, the head of regional thinktank Sahan Research.

“That uncertainty is creating a lot of competition and … driving a lot of the friction and violence.”

Abiy had also changed many senior security officials when he came to power, Bryden noted, creating more uncertainty that allowed armed groups that would once have been quashed to flourish.

Abiy’s changes have not gone unchallenged. A year ago, he survived a grenade attack that killed two people at his rally. In October, hundreds of soldiers marched on his palace demanding more pay. He defused the situation by doing push ups with them but later said they were trying to derail reforms.

The internet was down across Ethiopia on Sunday, although there was no statement on this from the government. Authorities have cut off the internet several times previously for security and other reasons.

Ethiopia is due to hold parliamentary elections next year, although the electoral board warned earlier this month that they were behind schedule and that instability could cause a problem for polling. Several opposition groups have called for the elections to be held on time anyway.

Additional reporting by Katharine Houreld; Writing by Elias Biryabarema and Katharine Houreld; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky </s> Ethiopian security forces have killed the man accused of leading a failed coup d'etat over the weekend.

General Asamnew Tsige allegedly led the coup attempt in the northern Amhara region and he was shot on Monday near the state capital Bahir Dar, the prime minister's press secretary, Negussu Tilahun, told Reuters news agency.

Tilahun declined to give any other details.

The failed putsch on Saturday led to the killing of four senior officials, including the army chief of staff.

Asamnew was on the run with some of his supporters while other plotters were arrested.

The reasons behind the attempted coup in the state remain unclear, although it may have been a reaction from Asamnew to a plan by state officials to rein him in after they were alarmed by reports of his ethnic rhetoric and recruitment of militias.

According to a government spokeswoman, Billene Seyoum, a "hit squad" led by Asamnew burst into a meeting in the state offices in Bahir Dar and shot dead regional government President Ambachew Mekonnen and his adviser Ezez Wassie.

"Several hours later, in what seems like a coordinated attack, the chief of staff of the national security forces, Seare Mekonnen, was killed in his home by his bodyguard in Addis Ababa," Seyoum said.

Asamnew had told the Amhara people to arm themselves and prepare for fighting against other groups, in a video spread on Facebook a week earlier.

He had been released from prison last year after receiving an amnesty for a similar coup attempt.

Access to the internet appeared to be blocked across Ethiopia on Monday, users reported. The streets of the capital Addis Ababa appeared calm.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has pushed through sweeping changes since coming to power in April last year, making peace with Eritrea, reining in the security services, releasing political prisoners and lifting bans on some outlawed separatist groups.

The reforms in Africa's second-most populous country have won him widespread international praise.

But his shake-up of the military and intelligence services has earned him powerful enemies at home, while his government is struggling to contain figures in Ethiopia's myriad ethnic groups fighting the federal government and each other for greater influence and resources.

Monday was a national day of mourning following Saturday's coup attempt. </s> , the office of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said.Spokeswoman Billene Seyoum told journalists a "hit squad"burst into a meeting in the state offices of Amhara's capital, Bahir Dar, on Saturday and shot regional government President Ambachew Mekonnen and his adviser Ezez Wassie.The men were "gravely injured in the attack and later died of their wounds," she said."Several hours later, in what seems like a coordinated attack, the chief of the staff of the national security forces Seare Mekonnen was killed in his home by his bodyguard in Addis Ababa.", Billene added.The bodyguard has been apprehended while Asaminew is still on the loose, sources said.Al Jazeera's Leah Harding, reporting from Addis Ababa, said Abiy called those responsible "mercenaries"."The army intelligence general said the coup was meant to create chaos and division in the military. He said the military now has control over the situation ... and he reiterated that there are no divisions within the military," Harding reported."This is particularly important because."Analysts said the incident showed the seriousness of the political crisis in Ethiopia, where efforts by Abiy to loosen the iron-fisted grip of his predecessors and push through reforms have unleashed a wave of unrest."These tragic incidents, unfortunately, demonstrate the depth of Ethiopia's political crisis," said International Crisis Group analyst William Davison."It is now critical that actors across the country do not worsen the instability by reacting violently or trying to exploit this unfolding situation for their own political ends," the expert said.Residents of Bahir Dar said late on Saturday there was gunfire in some neighbourhoods and some roads had been closed off.The US embassy issued alerts about reported gunfire in Addis Ababa and violence around Bahir Dar.Early on Sunday, Brigadier General Tefera Mamo, the head of special forces in Amhara, told state television that "most of the people who attempted the coup have been arrested, although there are a few still at large."Since coming to power last year,He has released political prisoners, lifted bans on political parties and prosecuted officials accused of gross human rights abuses, but his government is battling mounting violence., including Amhara, where the regional government was led by Ambachew Mekonnen."Since Abiy Ahmed took power and the country moved towards democratisation ... there have been different forms of mobilisations, by different actors, particularly nationalists." Awol Allo, a lecturer in law at Keele University, told Al Jazeera."[In] Amhara regional state, there is this feeling that they were marginalised, and these individuals that were suspected to be behind the coup recently said that Amhara people have never been subordinated.. so there is this sense of grievance and victimhood that is driving the nationalist movements," he added.Ethiopia is due to hold a national parliamentary election next year. Several opposition groups have called for the polls to be held on time despite the unrest and displacement.
An attempted coup in Ethiopia's Amhara state leaves several people dead, including the regional president Ambachew Mekonnen and the Chief of Staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Force, General Se'are Mekonnen.