Ethiopia protests: At least 4 killed as violence erupts over new region

At least four people have been killed in protests over the breakaway region of Ethiopia, the hospital authorities said, according to AFP.

Emboldened by political reforms introduced by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed since he took power in 2018, Sidama activists had announced they would unilaterally declare a new regional state on Thursday but delayed the plan later averting potentially bloody confrontation.

#BREAKING Four killed in protests over breakaway region of Ethiopia: hospital pic.twitter.com/1dkwgqG6XL

— AFP news agency (@AFP) July 19, 2019

Ethiopia's 100 million citizens come from dozens of ethnic groups with competing claims to land, resources, and influence.