Oromo activists in Ethiopia have launched a "fuel blockade," occupying roadways to halt the shipment of oil and gasoline through the country. The action was called following a massacre at the village of Moyale, near the Kenyan border. Troops gunned down nine unarmed residents March 10, apparently mistaking them for militants of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF). Nearly 5,000 have fled across the border to Kenya—some having directly run from gunfire. Ethiopia last year imposed a state of emergency in response to mounting Oromo protests. Roadblocks were reported from several points around the country March 13, so far without violence. (Africa News [10], OPride [11], AFP [12], Addis Standard via UNPO [13])
The violence came two days after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson [14] visited Addis Ababa, and called for "greater freedom" in Ethiopia. He was ousted by President Trump [15] at the end of his five-day African tour. (DW [16], Vanguard [17])
