Ethiopia says army to take over security in troubled south

Ethiopia announced Monday that soldiers and federal police will take over at least 18 people dead.

"The regular security structure has been unable to ensure the rule of law and has been stymied by various agendas," he said.

"From today onward the southern region will be under a federal security forces-led command post."

The unrest is one of the largest ethnic groups in the region, to establish a new semi-autonomous state – a project that has reached a collision course with the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

Protests of Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region.

Ethiopia is already partitioned into nine semi-autonomous regions. The constitution requires the government to organize a referendum for any ethnic group that wants to form a new entity within a year of them requesting it.

Sidama leaders submitted their request to the government of the United States.

Clashes broke out when it became clear that it was not imminent, with violence carrying the weekend.

In its statement, the government said security had deteriorated and the southern region was plagued by "strife, destruction, displacement and robberies".

"Armed and illegal groups have been wrestling in the region and trying to restore the rule of law," he said.

It said the federal takeover came at the request of regional officials. Details of a new central command post.

Rising death toll

Hospital officials in Hawbada, the regional capital, said last Friday that four people were killed in protests there.

Security forces swiftly quelled the unrest in Hawbada spread.

A hospital official in Woreta Rbada, located about 30 kilometers (18 miles) outside Hawbada, said Monday that 12 people had died after being shot by soldiers late last week.

"Twelve people from the community have been injured," said the official, who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to reveal casualty totals.

"They were fighting the military."

In Yirgalem, around 40 kilometers south of Hawbada, two people died out of 10 who were admitted to the local hospital, said Gudura Funte, the hospital's head.

"One patient was shot at 4:00 am today." The rest came on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, "Funte said.

He added that the security situation had largely stabilized by Monday afternoon.

The numbers provided by hospital officials are likely incomplete, as reported in other areas.

Some Sidama activists have done so much.

Derese Desalegn, the head of the Sidama health department, said to be prepared for the future.

At least 150 people had been arrested in connection with violence as of Friday, Hawbada Mayor Sukare Shuda told regional state media.