Civil unrest in Ethiopia

This item appears on page 21 of the November 2017 issue.

The US Department of State warns of the risks of travel in Ethiopia, due to the potential for civil unrest and arbitrary detention. There continue to be reports of unrest, particularly in the Gondar region and Bahir Dar in Amhara State and in parts of Oromia State. 

Visitors should avoid demonstrations and large gatherings, continuously assess their surroundings and evaluate their personal level of safety. Be aware that the government may use force and live fire in response to demonstrations and that even gatherings intended to be peaceful can be met with a violent response or turn violent without warning. 

Additionally, the government of Ethiopia does not inform the US Embassy of detentions or arrests of US citizens in Ethiopia.