Ethiopia says coup attempt thwarted, regional president and military chief killed

Ethiopia's Government has foiled a coup attempt that saw the country's military chief shot dead by his own bodyguard, the prime minister said.

Ethiopia's internet appeared to have been shut down in the wake of an attack in the northern Amhara region, with gunfire heard both there and in the capital, Addis Ababa, on Saturday.

The failed coup in the Amhara region was led by a high-ranking military officer and others within the military on Saturday, said Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in an address televised by the state broadcaster on Sunday.

Soldiers attacked a building in which a meeting of regional officials was taking place, Nigussu Tilahun, spokesman for the prime minister, told a news conference Sunday.

The regional president and at least two other officials were among the victims of that attack, he said.

The violent attack in Bahir Dar, capital of Amhara, was linked to the subsequent assassination of army chief General Seare Mekonnen, who was shot dead by a bodyguard at his home in Addis Ababa.

A retired army general visiting the army chief at the time was also killed in the same attack, the spokesman said.

"There is a link between the two attacks," Mr Nigussu said.

The attack in Bahir Dar was allegedly led by a renegade brigadier who had recently been pardoned by Ethiopia's prime minister after being jailed for some offenses.

Most of the perpetrators of the attack in Bahir Dar have been apprehended and others are being hunted down, said the spokesman.

The attempted coup in Amhara is the latest challenge to Mr Abiy, who was elected last year as a reform-minded young leader.

Mr Abiy has introduced a range of political and economic reforms, including the surprise acceptance of a peace agreement with longstanding rival Eritrea, the opening of major state-owned sectors to private investment, and the release of thousands of prisoners — including opposition figures once sentenced to death.

In June 2018, just months after he took office, Mr Abiy was targeted in a grenade attack at a massive rally in support of the sweeping changes in Ethiopia.

Nine police officials were arrested over that incident, state media reported.

Source: ABC News (AU)

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