Hachalu Hundessa: The events following the murder of a young musician and the socio-economic and political impact that followed

On the final day of June 2020, there was an air of uncertainty with Addis's roads uncharacteristically remaining quiet with everyone scrambling to make sure their loved ones remained safe. The tension could be clearly seen as the country welcomed another challenge to add upon its election conundrum and the coronavirus epidemic which had reached peaks during the month of June. The first few days of July were not an exception either. Starting from June 30th the streets of Addis and several towns in the Oromia Region were marred with violence and different forms of disturbances in the nation. The instability in the nation’s capital and other cities in the Oromia region came in the form of sticks and stones, broken windows of buildings, the sight of burnt cars, the loss of lives and ethnic based confrontations.Early on Tuesday morning, the town of Addis woke up to watch young people from the surrounding parts of the city entering it, chanting and wielding sticks. Cars were burnt, shops looted, buildings destroyed by stone wielding protesters, bombs set off in different parts of the nation and precious Ethiopian lives were lost. The country had lived through one of its most harrowing moments of its recent history. The reason: the untimely assassination of singer Hachalu Hundessa on the evening of June 29, 2020. The singer was allegedly shot in his car around his residence according to reports from the Federal Police, the Attorney General's Office and other important government authorities. He was rushed to the hospital, but it was too late as he had passed away from the gunshot wounds inflicted near the area commonly known as Gelan Condominium.Following two weeks of internet lockdown, Addis Zeybe will attempt to raise important socio-economic and political points. In the following article, different observations from the assassination of the singer and the events following the murder of the young musician. In an effort to make the above assessment in a concise manner a brief account of the murder of the artist and the events that followed will be given followed by an assessment of the different stakeholders in the matter.The story of Artist Hachalu HundessaBefore we narrate the death of the artist, like our culture requires it let us ask who Hachalu was. Hachalu Hundessa, was born in Ambo, a city located 125 km west of Addis Ababa. The singer was known for his inspirational songs. However, limiting the work of the artist to music would be grossly unfair. Hachalu was not just a famous musician, he was also known for his political activism. Born in the hub of different Oromo resistances (mostly ideological), reports show that his life had long been intertwined with political movements in Oromia Regional state. He had his political upbringing in the city where he was born and raised which was a flash point for many protest movements in the country. He also played a significant role in the Qeerroo (Youth) movement that is considered by many to have created a significant amount of pressure leading to the midterm resignation of former Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and the introduction of the new administration of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali.But politics was not the only thing that he did when he was young; he began playing the Ethiopian traditional instrument commonly known as Kirar at a young age. According to his friends, there was a spot where he used to practice his Kirar, a place named Ambo Alemtu, which was also a place where people used to gather to discuss politics. His participation in the discussion allegedly caused him a significant amount of trouble with the authorities at a young age. Later, in the 2000s, the singer was sent to prison for a five-year sentence over charges of murder. While many believe he was sent to prison for the political symbol he represented in the Oromo struggle, the narrative from the government at the time was that the artist was detained and sentenced over murder charges.After completing five years of prison, Hachalu Hundessa returned to his school life going back to high school after a significant gap. Following his prison time, he also started working on his music career. His formative years as a professional musician started as a drummer for a band based in the city of Adama. Following that, Hachalu secured his big break with the release of his first professional solo single by the name Segni Moti which secured him a huge traction in the music industry. His political activism grew with his music career as the appeal he had towards the youth helped in the matter. Songs like Maalan Jira as well as his album Wae Kegna gave him a status of an activist in the Oromo struggle generally and the Qerro movement specifically. He was allegedly seen as a tool for the fight for freedom, equality and democracy in the region. On different occasions the singer himself has referred to himself as a politician even though he was not formally a member of any party. He often spoke of his intentions to contribute to the struggle of his people by using his profession and talent. Hachalu and his fans have also often alleged different harassment efforts from government officials of the previous regimes in different forms.The journey or ideological beliefs of the artist are not universally accepted by all political, ethnic and demographic groups of the country. To the contrary, like many public figures in the country the singer had his logical critics as well as ethnically motivated unacceptance during his musical and political careers. Even within the Oromo community, the singer’s political views were not always welcomed with acceptance. This is evidenced by the uncut interview the singer had a few weeks before Hachalu met his untimely end at the hands of a gunman. In the full interview, Hachalu is seen discussing threats to his life received from the violent faction of the OLF, the OLF Shene and other political groups and individuals within the struggle.At the age of 36, on a Monday evening to be remembered for ages the singer met his end at the hands of a gunman near his home around Gelan Condominium. In the interest of keeping the integrity of the presumption of innocence in the case, it is better to not discuss the identity of the killers of the artist. The above decision to exclude such identity or affiliation is because as an independent media outlet Addis Zeybe strongly believes that it is for the proper authorities to determine such identity and for the media to report. Hachalu is survived by his wife and three children. Reports suggest that in line with the culture of helping the families of the deceased a committee made up of the artists family members, government officials and other stakeholders was created on July 4, 2020 in order to come up with ways to help the singer’s family in a consistent manner.The events of the Days that followed"We have learned from the events that transpired in the month of June for the past three weeks. We will work to make next year's June productive and not deathly." was the powerful message from the Commander in chief of the country, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, at a televised meeting held with high level officials and security authorities on July 3, 2020. At the end of an eventful and tense week, the prime minister reassured the public over the adamance of his administration to further the country's development and the commitment of the same to halt any efforts to create instability in Ethiopia.The news of the death of artist Hachalu Hundessa on Monday evening was met with mixed emotions by different members of the Ethiopian community. The days that followed the tragic death of the singer are testament enough to the significance of the event in the country's three-year journey of reform. As noted by the prime minister, the three Junes the country has passed since the introduction of Dr. Abiy's administration have been filled with tragic deaths of different individuals. The assassination attempt on the life of the prime minister himself that claimed the lives of his supporters at Meskel Square in June 2018, the killing of several government officials including the President of Amhara Regional State Dr Ambachew Mekonnen, Security Adviser to the president of the Amhara Regional State Ezez Wassie, Amhara Regional State Attorney General Megbaru Kebede, former Chief of Staff of the Army General Searre Mekonen and retired General Gezai Abera, in June of 2019 and the recent installment of instability in 2020 have made the month one that bears sorrow and grief with it. June has certainly been a trying month for the country.The morning following the death of the artist was followed by scenes of protests in areas of Addis Ababa near the Oromia region. However, the protests then spilled over to most parts of Addis Ababa as angry mobs started destroying property - smashing windows relentlessly as they expressed their discontent in the death of artist Hachalu Hundessa. Areas like Bole, Piasa, Saris, Summit, Jemo, Mekanisa, Megenagna, CMC, Gotera Masalecha, Qera and more were filled with angry groups of mobs. Clashes with residents of the city followed the actions of the angry mob as Addis Ababa police forces, Federal police forces and members of the special forces were deployed all over the capital of the nation.The city quiet in all definitions - the days that followed were of uncertainty and insecurity in the once vibrant city. The government’s decision to shut down the internet has contributed to minimize the spread of violence inciting messages. The funeral of the deceased singer was scheduled to happen on Thursday in his birthplace; the City of Ambo. As his family started to travel towards the city 112 kms away from the capital to conclude the funeral services of Hachalu Hundessa, however, what allegedly transpired during their venture to the city was of paramount surprise to many. According to reports from the Attorney General's Office, the Federal Police and the Oromia police there was a successful attempt by a Jawar Mohammed and Bekele Gerba led group of protesters to apprehend the body of deceased artist Hachalu Hundessa. The group then brought the body of the artist to the office of the Prosperity Party in Addis Ababa with an attempt to make a political statement. In an altercation that allegedly claimed the lives of one police officer assigned to the office and an unspecified number of civilians, the attempt was curbed and later on unraveled as a part of a larger political scheme to possibly overthrow the sitting government by causing chaos in the country's capital.The government later on made public the news of the apprehension of certain individuals including vocal opposition leaders such as Eskender Nega, Jawar Mohammed and Bekele Gerba along with employees of news agencies such as OMN. The role of the media outlets in the chaos that ensued in Addis Ababa and other parts of the country was amplified by the government on many occasions with stations such as OMN, Dimste Woyane and Tigray TV allegedly spreading rumors of administrative chaos within the ruling party on the days following the death of the artist. On the meeting the commissioner of the Federal Police Endeshaw Tasew stated that the stations had been spreading rumors of apprehension of government officials including but not limited to the deputy mayor of Addis Ababa Takele Uma, the president of the Oromo Regional State Ato Shemelis Abdisa and the Attorney General Mrs. Adanech Abebe. In addition, the stations were also allegedly spreading rumors surrounding the killing of the singer with intentions of making it a racial war over a similar theme that seems to not relent in the nation. For a detailed account of the major political figures arrested by the government please see the third instalment of Recap-Ethiopia available on the YouTube Channel of Addis Zeybe Digital Multimedia.The prime minister noted in his opening speech at the meeting of the high officials, that the individuals behind the recent instability in the nation were the same people the government either released from prison or invited back from exile to participate in the political space created by his new "reformed" administration. However, continues the prime minister, these persons have persisted in creating chaos and instability in order to amass power for themselves. This incident was no different according to the prime minister's comments. He also reassured the public and called on his officials present at the meeting to make sure the rule of law is observed preferably by peaceful means but if necessary, also with proportional force. He noted the imperative time Ethiopia finds itself in both in the continuing local election drama and the external negotiations persisting over the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and that all Ethiopians must unite to curb the danger that threatens their unity and prosperity in the coming years. Accounts of the three days according to the Commissioner of the Federal Police Ato Endeshaw Tasew:The head of the Federal police gave a clear account of what allegedly happened in the days that followed the killing of the artist Hachalu Hundessa. The overall alleged strategy of the perpetrators was identified as having two features. The first one was spreading chaos in the capitol and other parts of the country by turning the death of the young artist into an ethnically motivated killing while the second one was spreading false information about the arrest of high government officials and a divide between the military prompting the public into fueling more chaos in the country.On the first day the commissioner allegedly stated that there were two kinds of groups that traveled to Addis following the assassination of the young artist. The first group claimed the commissioner was composed of peaceful fans and supporters of the artists that came to mourn the death of the artist while the other group was a destructive mob that intended to create chaos in the capitol. The commissioner stated that there were similar incidents in other parts of the country as well. According to the report there were individuals that were strategically planning the destruction to amass a response from the public in Addis and leading into clashes between civilians.Similarly on the second day, the youth according to the report were armed with different political intentions and were representing different institutions. The groups allegedly tried to create chaos within the residents of the city but were put under control with the help of the police forces. Finally the commissioner also noted that the main focus of the police force on the third day was guaranteeing the peaceful completion of the funeral program in the city of Ambo. The commissioner discussed different efforts taken by the police forces deployed to guarantee the program at the Ambo city stadium and the funeral program went through without any disruption of peace. The commissioner however noted that there were efforts to retake the body of the artist in the process of conducting the funeral services. The police force allegedly took the necessary measures against these forces with an alleged support from the community as well. The commissioner finally noted the casualties in the three days of instability in different parts of the nation. In Addis Ababa the commissioner reported the death of two police officers and eight civilians while in the Oromia region five members of the police forces lost their lives during the recent installment of riots in the region. In the period following the death of the artist, the commissioner also reported that roughly 1,200 persons were arrested of which some are being released while those with prior affiliations will be tried. Currently the total death toll is reported to be at over 150.The commissioner finally shared information about the investigation into the murder of singer Hachalu Hundessa as well as other arrests made in relation to the riots related to the killing of the singer. In relation to the assassination of the singer, the commissioner noted that four suspects are under custody pending additional investigations by the relevant authorities. In addition to that, the commissioner also noted that Jawar Mohammed and 38 more people arrested had been brought before court within 48 hours. Additionally the commissioner also discussed the measures taken towards institutions such as the Balderas Party, Dimtse Woyane, Tigray TV and Asrat TV. In relation to the media outlets the commissioner reminded the public that there were repeated cautions given to the stations on many occasions prior to the current measures taken.Lessons learnt: An observation The events of the past week were not out of the political context and history of instability of the nation in the past few years. The country has been marred with such instances of protests and instability for the past decade powered by different political agendas. Like previous times, similar themes were raised surrounding ethnicity and aimed at fragmenting the nation beyond recognition. The cumulative effect of extremist social media users, mainstream media outlets, political opposition leaders and a grossly irresponsible culture of disseminating information, the threat of clashes between different groups of people has been the constant fear of the country's inhabitants. There is ample evidence for this. The spike in internally displaced persons all over the nation and the recurrent assassination of key personnel and the repeated referral to failed states such as Lybia and Syria as well as country’s with a history of ethnic genocide such as Rwanda is evidence enough to support the above assertion. The current installment of protests in Addis Ababa have taught us a number of things about the unpredictable nature of the country’s political situation. This section discovers such lessons. However, it is important to keep in mind that the following section is not an exclusive list of the lessons learnt.The GovernmentOne of the things to point out is the strong political stance taken by the ruling government which is not in line with the theme of the administrations in similar occasions such as this one. The response to previous occasions of such protests and incitement of violence Dr. Abiy’s administration was criticised by different commentators. Contrary to this criticism, the government took serious measures against those it deemed responsible for the death of the singer and for the violence that followed. To date the government has arrested different opposition leaders, protesters and members of the media. This has received popular support according to government media outlets, the general public as well as other stakeholders. So why should we commend this change of policy? Is it the identity of those arrested? Or is it because the country saw a government capable of taking serious measures in order to guarantee the observance of rule of law? The first justification is merely a political opinion. As such, any justification along such lines is irrelevant. The second reasoning however, is one that requires due attention. Though any action against opposition leaders or the media must be carefully examined from the human rights and democratization process, it is also the duty of the government to protect its citizens from any form of violence. In fact, it is the duty of the government to protect its citizens. Another important feature of the administration that was tested during the recent riots in Addis was the transparency shown during the days of the protest and the period that followed. Important appearances from government officials and the detailed information given to the public on such appearances played a great role in showcasing the transparency in the current administration as well as calming the public during such trying times. Constant appearances from the Attorney General, the Commissioner of the Oromia Police as well as the commissioner of the Federal police coupled with detailed accounts of what transpired and could have transpired in the country show a commendable initiative to develop the culture of transparency in the country’s political system. From plots to executed actions, the government has been giving detailed accounts of arrests, investigations, court hearings and other events related to the assasination of Hachalu Hundessa and the events that followed. Another issue worth discussing can be the gap created in the fight to control and combat the coronavirus pandemic by the current administration. With the internet suspended on Tuesday morning the information outlets on different social media outlets were ineffective. This created a significant gap on the flow of information in relation to the coronavirus pandemic. Though seemingly insignificant, this could be a significant moment in the country’s engagement with the merciless pandemic thus far. While the jury is still out on deciding over the correctness of the suspension of internet services, there is no denying the lack of information over the virus may contribute to the inability of individuals, businesses and organizations to take informed precautions to protect themselves and the community form the covid19 pandemic. The MediaA culture created and reinforced by the government and its media outlets, the impartiality of our media institutions is one marred with political, cultural and most importantly ethnic alliances which defies the integrity of the discipline. The recent case is no different. For organizations like OMN, Asrat TV and Dimtse Woyane ethnic interests are at the heart of the different programs transmitted by the stations. The fact that Jawar Mohammed - a prominent member of the Oromo Democratic Coalition (ODC) - is the co-founder and active contributor to the Oromo Media Network (OMN) is testament enough to the lack of independence in the mainstream media. Evidence later made public by the government, the network is facing allegations of editing out an interview with the late artist Hachalu Hundessa where the artist shared information about death threats from the violent faction of the OLF, the OLF Shene. It is neither legal nor ethical to dictate the content of what the network chooses to air. However, it is also key to point out the responsibility of the TV network to at least report this information to the authorities after choosing to keep it from reaching the public.Another important observation on the part of the media is the role some outlets played in the dissemination of information that could have potentially incited ethnic clashes in the capitol and other parts of the country. Television networks such as OMN, Asrat TV and Dimtse Woyane were actively disseminating what the government is currently calling “fake news” intended at using the death of the artist to start clashes between ethnic groups. This also ties to the point raised earlier regarding the independence of media or the lack thereof. As such it is important to note that the culture of spreading information that could have detrimental effects needs to be addressed and corrected.

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