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Ethiopia on Monday observed a national day of mourning for the four top army officials killed in a coup attempt.

The officers including the country’s army chief of staff were killed in northern Amhara state.

Gen Seare Mekonnen and three other senior officials were trying to prevent the said coup attempt by an army general in Amhara.

The Amhara’s state president Ambachew Mekonnen and his advisor were also among those killed.

The state media named General Asamnew Tsige who happens to be the region’s security head as the orchestrator of the attempted coup.

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Tsige was found guilty of a coup plot against the national government in 2008 and received life sentence.

He gained freedom through an amnesty from Prime Minister Abiy last year after serving for 9 years.

Although some of the coup plotters have been arrested the key orchestrators are reportedly on the run.

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The United Nations has condemned the incident. The Secretary General António Guterres said in a statement that he was “deeply concerned by the weekend’s deadly incidents”.

The UN chief also called on “all Ethiopian stakeholders to demonstrate restraint, prevent violence and avoid any action that could undermine the peace and stability of Ethiopia”.

The Secretary General also said in his statement that he “welcomed the commitment of the Prime Minister and Government of Ethiopia to ensure that the perpetrators of these actions are brought to justice.

The United Nations remains committed to supporting the Government of Ethiopia in its efforts to address ongoing challenges.”

Amhara state

The state of Amhara is Ethiopia’s second most populous region and home to people belonging to the Amhara ethnic group.

The national language of Amharic originates from the Amhara state. But there is continued violence between the Amhara and Gumuz ethnic groups.

Many people have been killed in both states due to fighting with the latest clashes happening in May of this year.

This particular fighting and other ethnic clashes in Ethiopia have displaced millions and are largely over land disputes.

Source: Africafeeds.com